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Leaf cutter ants exhibit eusociality or true social behavior. Worker ants, which

ID: 281603 • Letter: L

Question

Leaf cutter ants exhibit eusociality or true social behavior. Worker ants, which are females, cut and transport the leaves and rear the fungus on the leaves as well as rear the young produced by the queen. The ants exhibit haploidiploidy so all of the males have a chromosomes in their body cells. The daughters from a single male receive all of the same paternal genes so the daughters are related by - this source alone. Daughters get 2 of their genes from their mother. Therefore, the workers (daughters) are related by the workers from a single male and queen is %. number of % (coefficient of relatedness-r) from %(r) through their mother and the total relatedness (r) of In another ant species, the relatedness (r) of the workers is 0.65 or 65% since the queen has matings with multiple males. Using Hamilton's Rule (rB>C), explain if this type of altruistic behavior makes sense for the inclusive fitness of these worker ants if B equals 8 and C equals 4 for each individual ant. (4 pts.)

Explanation / Answer

Leafcutter ant usually belongs to two of either genus Atta or Acromyrmex. If Acromyrmex ant is taken into consideration, the chromosome number is 38 under the diploid state.

Based on Haplodiploidy system of mating the females are diploid (2n) and males are haploid (n) in nature.

The coefficient of relatedness is nothing but the biological relationship between the two concerned individuals. The diploid females arose from parents are supposed to have 100% of the coefficient of relatedness to the respective male parent.

The daughters have 50 % of relatedness to the single queen and male.

According to Hamilton's rule, if 0.65 is the relatedness and B; the reproductive act association with the altruistic act is 8, rB>C is valid. therefore this type of altruistic behavior makes sense for the inclusive fitness of these worker ants.