超級聚落超級聚落（（ SupercolonySupercolony ））-------- 综論生命形式的極至综論生命形式的極至

鍾兆晉 台北縣立林口國民中學總務主任 國立台灣大學昆蟲學研究所博士候選人

MisconceptMisconcept

Division of Labor in Human

Life Form in Earth

•Organism

•Superorganism

•Supercolony

• Self-organizedSelf-organized

• Decentralized systemDecentralized system

• Decided by workersDecided by workers

Eusocial Eusocial InsectInsect

• Division of labor

• Caste differentiation

• Communication

• Polyethism

• Effective recruitment system

What is “supercolony”?

• High relatedness

• Budding foundation

• Sympatric

• No aggressive behavior

• High drifting ratio

Supercolony of gray-black spiny ant, Polyrachis dives

• Multiple migration within a supercolony

• Adult transport

• 36 colonies in a supercolony recorded(Yatsusuke et. al., 1987)

Species expressed supercolony

• Polyrhachis dives• Polyrhachis sokolova• Polyrhachis robsoni• Formica yessensis• Formica paralugubris• Linepithema humile • Lasius neglectus• Anoplolepis gracilipes• Pheidole sps.

Origin of Supercolony

• Multi-original evolution

• From monogyny to polygyny

• Basic on sympatric

• From independent founding to budding

• Sub-nest and sub-colony

• Polyrhachis dives• Polyrhachis sokolova• Polyrhachis robsoni• Formica yessensis• Formica paralugubris• Linepithema humile • Lasius neglectus• Anoplolepis gracilipes• Pheidole sps.

Formicinae

Dolichoderinae

Myrmicinae

Origin of Supercolony

• Multi-original evolution

• From monogyny to polygyny

• Basic on sympatric

• From independent founding to budding

• Sub-nest and sub-colony

Origin of Supercolony

• Multi-original evolution

• From monogyny to polygyny

• Basic on sympatric

• From independent founding to budding

• Sub-nest and sub-colony

Origin of Supercolony

• Multi-original evolution

• From monogyny to polygyny

• Basic on sympatric

• From independent founding to budding

• Sub-nest and sub-colony

Origin of Supercolony

• Multi-original evolution

• From monogyny to polygyny

• Basic on sympatric

• From independent founding to budding

• Sub-nest and sub-colony

Molecular analysis

• Microsatellite DNA

• Carbohydrate components of cuticle

Argue against

California ant 'supercolony' might not be so California ant 'supercolony' might not be so super after all super after all

By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY An ant "supercolony" in California might actually be An ant "supercolony" in California might actually be

nests of unrelated ant invaders, according to nests of unrelated ant invaders, according to researchers who are trying to figure out how to end researchers who are trying to figure out how to end

the insects' reign.the insects' reign.

Does the phenomenon, division of laber, exist in the supercolony level?

• previous study focus on “colony” as a unit of social organization

• Special function

• Different level

How to divide a supercolony into different functional group?

• Central colony

• Reproductive colony

• Supportive colony

• Reserve colony

Division of Labor in Supercolony of Gray-Black Spiny Ant, Polyrhachis dives code Total colony

numberCentral colony number

Reproductive colony number

Supportive colony number

Reserve colony number

Sample area

SC-01

6 1 3 1 1 Hu-Bei village

SC-02

11 1 5 4 1 Din-Hu village

SC-03

17 2 8 6 1 Din-Hu village

Individual colony

supercolony

Thank you!