A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara
Abstract Background Supergenes are chromosomal regions with tightly linked clusters of alleles that control compound phenotypic traits. Supergenes have been demonstrated to contribute to the maintenance of polymorphisms within populations in traits as diverse as mimetic wing coloration in butterflie...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-04-01
|
| Series: | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-02001-0 |
| _version_ | 1818274121894592512 |
|---|---|
| author | Darin McGuire Madison Sankovitz Jessica Purcell |
| author_facet | Darin McGuire Madison Sankovitz Jessica Purcell |
| author_sort | Darin McGuire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Supergenes are chromosomal regions with tightly linked clusters of alleles that control compound phenotypic traits. Supergenes have been demonstrated to contribute to the maintenance of polymorphisms within populations in traits as diverse as mimetic wing coloration in butterflies, mating strategies in birds, and malarial susceptibility in mosquitoes. A large supergene also underlies variation in social organization in Formica ants. Alternative supergene haplotypes are associated with the presence of either a single queen (monogyny) or multiple queens (polygyny) within colonies. Here, we assess the social structure and supergene status of the North American species Formica neoclara. Results We sequenced a subset of the genome in 280 individuals sampled in populations from California to northern British Columbia using ddRADseq. We determined that F. neoclara is socially polymorphic in queen number, and we show that the social polymorphism is associated with alternative haplotypes at the social supergene. Intriguingly, polygyne colonies can harbor workers that are homozygous for both haplotypes as well as heterozygotes. Conclusions This colony genetic composition contrasts with other Formica species, in which almost all individuals in polygyne colonies have the polygyne-associated haplotype. The social polymorphism is present in widely distributed and genetically subdivided populations of F. neoclara. In studying this system in F. neoclara, we expand our understanding of the functional evolution of supergene haplotypes as they diverge in different lineages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:08:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-653efc7b33e54a1cbf2af0b2e0e8a78a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2730-7182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:08:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-653efc7b33e54a1cbf2af0b2e0e8a78a2022-12-22T00:10:19ZengBMCBMC Ecology and Evolution2730-71822022-04-0122111210.1186/s12862-022-02001-0A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclaraDarin McGuire0Madison Sankovitz1Jessica Purcell2Department of Entomology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Entomology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Entomology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Background Supergenes are chromosomal regions with tightly linked clusters of alleles that control compound phenotypic traits. Supergenes have been demonstrated to contribute to the maintenance of polymorphisms within populations in traits as diverse as mimetic wing coloration in butterflies, mating strategies in birds, and malarial susceptibility in mosquitoes. A large supergene also underlies variation in social organization in Formica ants. Alternative supergene haplotypes are associated with the presence of either a single queen (monogyny) or multiple queens (polygyny) within colonies. Here, we assess the social structure and supergene status of the North American species Formica neoclara. Results We sequenced a subset of the genome in 280 individuals sampled in populations from California to northern British Columbia using ddRADseq. We determined that F. neoclara is socially polymorphic in queen number, and we show that the social polymorphism is associated with alternative haplotypes at the social supergene. Intriguingly, polygyne colonies can harbor workers that are homozygous for both haplotypes as well as heterozygotes. Conclusions This colony genetic composition contrasts with other Formica species, in which almost all individuals in polygyne colonies have the polygyne-associated haplotype. The social polymorphism is present in widely distributed and genetically subdivided populations of F. neoclara. In studying this system in F. neoclara, we expand our understanding of the functional evolution of supergene haplotypes as they diverge in different lineages.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-02001-0Coadapted gene complexQueen numberFormicinaePopulation genetics |
| spellingShingle | Darin McGuire Madison Sankovitz Jessica Purcell A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara BMC Ecology and Evolution Coadapted gene complex Queen number Formicinae Population genetics |
| title | A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara |
| title_full | A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara |
| title_fullStr | A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara |
| title_short | A novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant Formica neoclara |
| title_sort | novel distribution of supergene genotypes is present in the socially polymorphic ant formica neoclara |
| topic | Coadapted gene complex Queen number Formicinae Population genetics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-02001-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT darinmcguire anoveldistributionofsupergenegenotypesispresentinthesociallypolymorphicantformicaneoclara AT madisonsankovitz anoveldistributionofsupergenegenotypesispresentinthesociallypolymorphicantformicaneoclara AT jessicapurcell anoveldistributionofsupergenegenotypesispresentinthesociallypolymorphicantformicaneoclara AT darinmcguire noveldistributionofsupergenegenotypesispresentinthesociallypolymorphicantformicaneoclara AT madisonsankovitz noveldistributionofsupergenegenotypesispresentinthesociallypolymorphicantformicaneoclara AT jessicapurcell noveldistributionofsupergenegenotypesispresentinthesociallypolymorphicantformicaneoclara |