Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Partial bivoltinism may cause alternating sex-ratio biases that favour eusociality

Nature volume 301, pages 59–62 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Fisher1showed that frequency-dependent selection will stabilize balanced sex ratios of parental investment2, under a wide range of mating systems and patterns of mortality. But many actual ratios of investment are biased. Some of these can be explained by models3–14in which the life history lacks certain kinds of symmetry that are present in Fisher's model. For example, where brothers compete directly for matings, female biases are expected and found3,9. Here I describe a model for the evolution of sex ratios in species having two generations per year with an asymmetrical pattern of overlap between the generations. Many insects have partially bivoltine life histories of this kind. Two predictions emerge from an analysis of the model. First, one of the two generations produced each season will be female-biased, and the other will be male-biased. Second, eusociality will arise more often in haplodiploid species that overwinter as inseminated females than it will in those that overwinter as larvae or as unmated adults. Data on the sex ratios of bivoltine solitary Hymenoptera and on the phylogenetic distribution of eusociality are consistent with these predictions. Thus the model shows one particular way in which ecological and genetic variables may interact to encourage the evolution of eusociality in some species and to discourage it in others.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fisher, R. A. The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (Oxford University Press, 1930).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Trivers, R. L. in Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man 1871–1971 (ed. Campbell, B.) (Aldine, Chicago, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hamilton, W. D. Science 156, 477–488 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Trivers, R. L. & Willard, D. E. Science 179, 90–92 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Trivers, R. L. & Hare, H. Science 191, 249–263 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Charnov, E. L. & Bull, J. Nature 266, 828–830 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Clark, A. B. Science 201, 163–165 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Werren, J. H. & Charnov, E. L. Nature 272, 349–350 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Werren, J. H. Science 208, 1157–1159 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bulmer, M. G. & Taylor, P. D. Nature 284, 448–449 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bull, J. J. Heredity 46, 9–26 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Charnov, E. L., Los-den Hartogh, R. L., Jones, W. T. & Assem, J. van den Nature 289, 27–33 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Charnov, E. L. Am. Nat. 112, 317–326 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Charnov, E. L. Am. Nat. 113, 465–480 (1979).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  15. Travis, C. C., Post, W. M., DeAngelis, D. L. & Perkowski, J. Theor. pop. Biol. 18, 16–30 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Simon Thomas, R. T. & Poorter, E. P. R. Tijdschr. Ent. 115, 141–151 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Alcock, J. et al. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 64, 293–326 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gwynne, D. T. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 7, 213–225 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Evans, H. E., Anim. Behav. 21, 302–308 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hamilton, W. D. J. theor. Biol. 7, 1–16 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hamilton, W. D. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 3, 193–232 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Craig, R. J. theor. Biol. 87, 55–70 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wilson, E. O. The Insect Societies (Harvard University Press, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Michener, C. D. The Social Behavior of the Bees (Harvard University Press, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Stephen, W. P., Bohart, G. E. & Torchio, P. F. Biology and External Morphology of Bees (Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Michener, C. D. & Bennett, F. D. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 51, 233–260 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Fye, R. E. Can. Ent. 97, 716–744 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Danks, H. V. Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 122, 323–399 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Longair, R. W. Evolution 35, 597–600 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jon Seger

    Present address: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Population Biology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK

    Jon Seger

Authors
  1. Jon Seger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seger, J. Partial bivoltinism may cause alternating sex-ratio biases that favour eusociality. Nature 301, 59–62 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/301059a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/301059a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing