Selection pressure on ant population

From EESwiki

In this project we will analyze the effect of natural selection on different morphological, genetic and behavioural traits of ants of the genus Temnothorax. We will collect ants from mid-July to mid-August 2009 in the north-eastern US in field sites in New York and West Virginia. Field work includes mapping plots, conducting survival experiments and collecting Temnothorax longispinosus ant colonies. Measurements and experiments will be conducted in late summer to fall at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich, Germany including the analysis of morphological, behaviour, and Microsatellite analysis to determine heterozygosity and intracolonial relatedness. The effect of these traits on colony fitness will be evaluated by determining the selection gradient through trait-fitness regressions and the selection differential by comparing the mean value of a trait before and after selection events (colony foundation, first winter).

Contact: Andreas Modlmeier, ModlmeierAndreas@gmx.de

Starting date: June 2009

Field trip  : June 2009 - July 2009

Costs  : We cover flight costs and travel expenses