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Title:
Eusociality: Origin and consequences
Authors:
Wilson, Edward O.; Hölldobler, Bert
Affiliation:
AA(Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-2902; School of Life Sciences-LSC 274, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501; and Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften (Biozentrum), Universität Würzburg, Lehrstuhl für Zoologie II, Am Hubland, D97074 Würzburg, Germany), AB(Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-2902; School of Life Sciences-LSC 274, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501; and Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften (Biozentrum), Universität Würzburg, Lehrstuhl für Zoologie II, Am Hubland, D97074 Würzburg, Germany)
Publication:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 102, Issue 38, 2005, pp.13367-13371
Publication Date:
09/2005
Category:
Perspectives
Origin:
PNAS
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 2005: The National Academy of Sciences
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.0505858102
Bibliographic Code:
2005PNAS..10213367W

Abstract

In this new assessment of the empirical evidence, an alternative to the standard model is proposed: group selection is the strong binding force in eusocial evolution; individual selection, the strong dissolutive force; and kin selection (narrowly defined), either a weak binding or weak dissolutive force, according to circumstance. Close kinship may be more a consequence of eusociality than a factor promoting its origin. A point of no return to the solitary state exists, as a rule when workers become anatomically differentiated. Eusociality has been rare in evolution, evidently due to the scarcity of environmental pressures adequate to tip the balance among countervailing forces in favor of group selection. Eusociality in ants and termites in the irreversible stage is the key to their ecological dominance and has (at least in ants) shaped some features of internal phylogeny. Their colonies are consistently superior to solitary and preeusocial competitors, due to the altruistic behavior among nestmates and their ability to organize coordinated action by pheromonal communication.
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