Andreas Modlmeier

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Dipl. biol. Andreas Modlmeier

Verhaltensökologie
Department Biologie II
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Großhaderner Str. 2
82152 Martinsried
Germany

My PhD thesis

Variation in time and space in the direction and strength of selection in ant populations

Charles Darwin recognized that variation and heritability of traits connected to differential reproduction invariably leads to natural selection and hence to evolution, which created the vast diversity of species today. Yet, for many species little is known about the direction and strength of natural selection on specific traits. Paleontology suggests that species adapt fast to new environments and remain largely unchanged thereafter for long time intervals. In contrast, ecological studies show that selection pressures fluctuate over short periods of time. During this project, I will investigate which morphological and behavioral traits of ant queens and workers of the genus Temnothorax are under selection in nature. For that purpose, I will estimate the selection gradient via trait-fitness regressions and the selection differential that is calculated by comparing the mean value of a trait before and after selection events. In addition, I will analyse how the intracolonial variance in trait expressions influences fitness. Finally, I will assess if the fitness of ant colonies is influenced by heterozygosity or genetic diversity.