Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism

O'Donnell, S. ; Jeanne, R. L.
Springer
Published 1995
ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Divison of labor ; Polybia occidentalis ; Hymenoptera ; Vespidae ; age polyethism ; lipid content ; colony efficiency
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Recent models of energetically efficient division of labor in eusocial insects predict that risky tasks will be performed by workers with low nutrient content. We measured changes in workers' nutrient stores (chloroform: methanol extractable lipids) in relation to age-based division of labor in the eusocial waspPolybia occidentalis to test this prediction. Distributions of age of first performance differed among task sets; tasks at increasing distance from the nest interior were performed later in life. However, individuals varied in the rate of passage through the task sequence. Weight of extractable lipids, corrected for differences in body weight, decreased with time elapsed since first performance of tasks outside the nest. Lipid content had a weaker negative relationship with adult age. Therefore, patterns of lipid decrease reflected individual differences in age polyethism. Age-based division of labor, with performance of risky tasks delayed until late in life by workers with depleted nutrient stores, may have evolved as an energy saving mechanism for insect colonies.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
_version_ 1798295347847495682
autor O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
autorsonst O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
book_url http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01941274
datenlieferant nat_lic_papers
hauptsatz hsatz_simple
identnr NLM189398981
issn 1420-9071
journal_name Cellular and molecular life sciences
materialart 1
notes Abstract Recent models of energetically efficient division of labor in eusocial insects predict that risky tasks will be performed by workers with low nutrient content. We measured changes in workers' nutrient stores (chloroform: methanol extractable lipids) in relation to age-based division of labor in the eusocial waspPolybia occidentalis to test this prediction. Distributions of age of first performance differed among task sets; tasks at increasing distance from the nest interior were performed later in life. However, individuals varied in the rate of passage through the task sequence. Weight of extractable lipids, corrected for differences in body weight, decreased with time elapsed since first performance of tasks outside the nest. Lipid content had a weaker negative relationship with adult age. Therefore, patterns of lipid decrease reflected individual differences in age polyethism. Age-based division of labor, with performance of risky tasks delayed until late in life by workers with depleted nutrient stores, may have evolved as an energy saving mechanism for insect colonies.
package_name Springer
publikationsjahr_anzeige 1995
publikationsjahr_facette 1995
publikationsjahr_intervall 8004:1995-1999
publikationsjahr_sort 1995
publisher Springer
reference 51 (1995), S. 749-752
schlagwort Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
search_space articles
shingle_author_1 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
shingle_author_2 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
shingle_author_3 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
shingle_author_4 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
shingle_catch_all_1 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Abstract Recent models of energetically efficient division of labor in eusocial insects predict that risky tasks will be performed by workers with low nutrient content. We measured changes in workers' nutrient stores (chloroform: methanol extractable lipids) in relation to age-based division of labor in the eusocial waspPolybia occidentalis to test this prediction. Distributions of age of first performance differed among task sets; tasks at increasing distance from the nest interior were performed later in life. However, individuals varied in the rate of passage through the task sequence. Weight of extractable lipids, corrected for differences in body weight, decreased with time elapsed since first performance of tasks outside the nest. Lipid content had a weaker negative relationship with adult age. Therefore, patterns of lipid decrease reflected individual differences in age polyethism. Age-based division of labor, with performance of risky tasks delayed until late in life by workers with depleted nutrient stores, may have evolved as an energy saving mechanism for insect colonies.
1420-9071
14209071
Springer
shingle_catch_all_2 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Abstract Recent models of energetically efficient division of labor in eusocial insects predict that risky tasks will be performed by workers with low nutrient content. We measured changes in workers' nutrient stores (chloroform: methanol extractable lipids) in relation to age-based division of labor in the eusocial waspPolybia occidentalis to test this prediction. Distributions of age of first performance differed among task sets; tasks at increasing distance from the nest interior were performed later in life. However, individuals varied in the rate of passage through the task sequence. Weight of extractable lipids, corrected for differences in body weight, decreased with time elapsed since first performance of tasks outside the nest. Lipid content had a weaker negative relationship with adult age. Therefore, patterns of lipid decrease reflected individual differences in age polyethism. Age-based division of labor, with performance of risky tasks delayed until late in life by workers with depleted nutrient stores, may have evolved as an energy saving mechanism for insect colonies.
1420-9071
14209071
Springer
shingle_catch_all_3 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Abstract Recent models of energetically efficient division of labor in eusocial insects predict that risky tasks will be performed by workers with low nutrient content. We measured changes in workers' nutrient stores (chloroform: methanol extractable lipids) in relation to age-based division of labor in the eusocial waspPolybia occidentalis to test this prediction. Distributions of age of first performance differed among task sets; tasks at increasing distance from the nest interior were performed later in life. However, individuals varied in the rate of passage through the task sequence. Weight of extractable lipids, corrected for differences in body weight, decreased with time elapsed since first performance of tasks outside the nest. Lipid content had a weaker negative relationship with adult age. Therefore, patterns of lipid decrease reflected individual differences in age polyethism. Age-based division of labor, with performance of risky tasks delayed until late in life by workers with depleted nutrient stores, may have evolved as an energy saving mechanism for insect colonies.
1420-9071
14209071
Springer
shingle_catch_all_4 O'Donnell, S.
Jeanne, R. L.
Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Divison of labor
Polybia occidentalis
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
age polyethism
lipid content
colony efficiency
Abstract Recent models of energetically efficient division of labor in eusocial insects predict that risky tasks will be performed by workers with low nutrient content. We measured changes in workers' nutrient stores (chloroform: methanol extractable lipids) in relation to age-based division of labor in the eusocial waspPolybia occidentalis to test this prediction. Distributions of age of first performance differed among task sets; tasks at increasing distance from the nest interior were performed later in life. However, individuals varied in the rate of passage through the task sequence. Weight of extractable lipids, corrected for differences in body weight, decreased with time elapsed since first performance of tasks outside the nest. Lipid content had a weaker negative relationship with adult age. Therefore, patterns of lipid decrease reflected individual differences in age polyethism. Age-based division of labor, with performance of risky tasks delayed until late in life by workers with depleted nutrient stores, may have evolved as an energy saving mechanism for insect colonies.
1420-9071
14209071
Springer
shingle_title_1 Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
shingle_title_2 Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
shingle_title_3 Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
shingle_title_4 Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
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source_archive Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
timestamp 2024-05-06T09:34:46.501Z
titel Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
titel_suche Worker lipid stores decrease with outside-nest task performance in wasps: Implications for the evolution of age polyethism
topic W
WW-YZ
uid nat_lic_papers_NLM189398981