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Evolution of cuticular hydrocarbon diversity in ants Van Wilgenburg, E., Symonds, M. R. E. and Elgar, M. A. 2011, Evolution of cuticular hydrocarbon diversity in ants, Journal of evolutionary biology, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 1188-1198. Attached Files Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads Title Evolution of cuticular hydrocarbon diversity in ants Author(s) Van Wilgenburg, E. Symonds, M. R. E. Elgar, M. A. Journal name Journal of evolutionary biology Volume number 24 Issue number 6 Start page 1188 End page 1198 Publisher Wiley - Blackwell Publishing Place of publication Oxford, U. K. Publication date 2011-06 ISSN 1010-061X 1420-9101 Keyword(s) chemical communication cuticular hydrocarbons Formicidae Hymenoptera mode of evolution nestmate recognition phylogenetic comparative analysis Summary The cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of ants provide important cues for nestmate and caste recognition. There is enormous diversity in the composition of these CHCs, but the manner in which this diversity has evolved is poorly understood. We gathered data on CHC profiles for 56 ant species, relating this information to their phylogeny. We deduced the mode of evolution of CHC profiles by reconstructing character evolution and then relating the number of changes in CHC components along each branch of the phylogeny to the length of the branch. There was a strong correlation between branch length and number of component changes, with fewer changes occurring on short branches. Our analysis thereby indicated a gradual mode of evolution. Different ant species tend to use specific CHC structural types that are exclusive of other structural types, indicating that species differences may be generated in part by switching particular biosynthetic pathways on or off in different lineages. We found limited, and contradictory, evidence for abiotic factors (temperature and rainfall) driving change in CHC profiles. Language eng Field of Research 060201 Behavioural Ecology 060309 Phylogeny and Comparative Analysis 060808 Invertebrate Biology Socio Economic Objective 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal Copyright notice ©2011, The Authors Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30039075 Document type: Journal Article Collection: School of Life and Environmental Sciences Related Links Link Description Connect to published version (restricted access) Go to link with your DU access privileges     Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright for items in DRO is owned by the author, with all rights reserved. Versions Version Filter Type Mon, 24 Oct 2011, 08:55:48 EST Mon, 24 Oct 2011, 11:45:16 EST Mon, 24 Oct 2011, 11:46:57 EST Mon, 17 Jun 2013, 17:00:32 EST Filtered Full Citation counts:   Cited 1 times in TR Web of Science Cited 19 times in Scopus Search Google Scholar Access Statistics: 45 Abstract Views, 2 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics Created: Mon, 24 Oct 2011, 08:55:48 EST

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