Abstract
Hybridization of two different species is an important mechanism to have gene flows between species. Recently, mating of two economically important invasive species of subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanusandCoptotermes gestroi) have been observed in the field and hybrids colonies have been established in the laboratory. It was previously reported that incipient colonies (~1 year old) of hybridCoptotermesspecies contained more termites than colonies of parental species, showing hybrid vigor. In this study, colony vigor and individual termite vigor were investigated in juvenile colonies (~2 year old), using colony growth parameters and the movement activity of individual termites as proxies for the evaluation of hybrid vigor beyond the initial colony foundation. After 2 years from colony foundations, hybrid colonies showed no more hybrid vigor. In addition, movement activity of termites in hybrid colonies was significantly slower than in termites from conspecific colonies. It is suggested that a reduction in the molting rates of individuals in hybrid colonies may have a negative impact on their physiology and their movement activity. These possible changes in physiology may affect the movement of individuals, and accumulation of these inefficient termites in hybrid colonies may contribute to the loss of hybrid vigor at 2 years of age in hybrid colonies.
Highlights
Sexual reproduction between two different species or relatively distant lineages can potentially allow for hybridization events, where it was estimated that up to 25% of plant species and 10% of animal species may have the ability to hybridize (Mallet, 2005, 2007)
We investigated the consequences of hybridization compared to parental species after 2 years of colony foundation from the individual to colony level, to determine if the hybrid colony vigor previously observed in 1 year-old colony (Chouvenc et al, 2015) is maintained as colonies grow
Alates of C. formosanus and C. gestroi were collected in Broward County (Florida, USA) during dispersal flight events using a light trap (Chouvenc et al, 2015)
Summary
Sexual reproduction between two different species or relatively distant lineages can potentially allow for hybridization events, where it was estimated that up to 25% of plant species and 10% of animal species may have the ability to hybridize (Mallet, 2005, 2007). Hybridization events may result in various outcomes, such as gene flow between species, individuals with increase genetic heterogeneity, which sometimes results in evolutionary novelties and hybrid vigor (Rhymer and Simberloff, 1996; Seehausen, 2004; Mallet, 2005, 2007; Seehausen et al, 2008; Abbott et al, 2013). Hybridization events have been reported in various insect groups, hybridization in social insects such as ants, bees, wasps and termites can provide unique opportunities to study the phenotypic consequences of novel genetic combinations from the individual to the colony level (Feldhaar et al, 2008). Hybridization in social insects has primarily been documented in haplodiploid hymenopterans, such as ants and bees. Consequences of hybridization in these cases have often included negative
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