Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
300
Queens
250
200
150
100
Workers
50
0
50
100
150
200
250
Body Mass (x)
Figure 8.5.
Ovariole number plotted against body mass (wet weight) for 3,610
individuals reared in the laboratory (in vitro) or in their own colonies. Boxes
dei ne the total phenotypic space of workers and queens when they are reared in
colonies by nurse bees. All points outside the boxes represent phenotypes that
are possible but are not produced in colonies. Bees reared in vitro covered the
entire phenotypic space. From Leimar et al. 2012. “Development and evolution
of caste dimorphism in honeybees—a modeling approach.”
Ecol ogy and
Evolution
2:3098-3109.
common-garden experiments (see Figure 4.5). We raised high- and
low-strain bees from eggs together in high- and low-strain colonies.
h erefore, high- and low-strain larvae were raised by high- and low-
strain nurse bees. We looked at body mass (wet weight, the total weight
including water) and ovariole number because both varied between the
high- and low-strain bees. High-strain bees on average had lower body
mass and more ovarioles. We could separate the ef ects of the nurse bee
environment from the genotype of the larva. High-strain larvae had
