Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Behavioral dominance occurs when a colony phenotype does not re-
l ect the average phenotypic value of the genotypes of individual worker
residents but is overly inl uenced by one genotypic group. Nest defense
demonstrates both genetic and behavioral dominance. Africanized
honey bees have been shown to respond much faster to stimuli that re-
lease stinging behavior, and many more members of the colony respond.
My former doctoral student Ernesto Guzmán-Novoa set up colonies in
Mexico that consisted of mixtures of Africanized and European honey
bees. He instrumentally inseminated European queens with sperm
from European and Africanized drones to produce colonies that were
composed of European and hybrid workers. By varying the propor-
tions of the AHB and EHB semen used for the inseminations, he pro-
duced colonies that contained 0 percent, 25 percent, and 50 percent hy-
brid workers (Figure 3.6). He also had the colony that contributed the
AHB drones for insemination (the drone father colony) and other
EHB
Queens
AHB
Queens
Drones
Drones
75% EHB
25% AHB
50% EHB
50% AHB
100%
EHB
100%
AHB
X
EHB Queens
100%
EHB
workers
87.5%
EHB
workers
75%
EHB
workers
50%
EHB
workers
Figure 3.6.
Mating design for experiment to test ef ects of genetic and
behavioral dominance on defensive behavior.
