In social insects, colonies often consist of a queen and workers. The workers are typically daughters of the queen. The queen is the only reproductive individual—the workers are sterile. a) According to Hamiton’s rule, what is the maximum ratio of cost to benefit (C/B) for the workers in order for this system to evolve? b) Some colonies of ants have multiple queens, which can be related to different degrees. Imagine that two sisters start a colony, so that they are the mother or aunt to all workers. What is the maximum ratio of cost to benefit (C/B) for the workers to sacrifice for their aunts?
In social insects, colonies often consist of a queen and workers. The workers are typically
daughters of the queen. The queen is the only reproductive individual—the workers are
sterile.
a) According to Hamiton’s rule, what is the maximum ratio of cost to benefit (C/B) for the
workers in order for this system to evolve?
b) Some colonies of ants have multiple queens, which can be related to different degrees.
Imagine that two sisters start a colony, so that they are the mother or aunt to all
workers. What is the maximum ratio of cost to benefit (C/B) for the workers to sacrifice
for their aunts?
Social insects, such as ants, offer a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of altruistic behaviors within colonies. These insect societies typically consist of a reproductive queen and sterile worker individuals. Understanding the conditions under which such behaviors evolve, as described by Hamilton's rule, can shed light on the dynamics of kin selection and the balance between costs and benefits within these complex communities.
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