What is the unusual reproductive mechanism key to A. gracilipes colonization success?
Answer
Chimerism
The primary factor enabling the yellow crazy ant's rapid territorial colonization is a highly unusual reproductive mechanism known as chimerism. This process involves the resulting offspring being genetic chimeras, meaning they are composed of cells possessing more than one distinct genotype. This genetic complexity arises from a differential utilization of sperm stored by the queen, leading to distinct genetic blueprints between the sterile worker caste and the reproductive new queens.
Related Questions
What is the scientific classification of the yellow crazy ant?What movement pattern gives the yellow crazy ant its common name?How long do yellow crazy ants rarely exceed in length?What is the unusual reproductive mechanism key to A. gracilipes colonization success?What pitfall of asexual reproduction does A. gracilipes genetic flexibility help bypass?Which caste in A. gracilipes incorporates stored paternal genes in a specialized manner?What is the main defense mechanism noted that A. gracilipes lacks compared to Solenopsis invicta?What endemic fauna on Christmas Island suffered catastrophic population crashes due to A. gracilipes predation?What results from the resource concentration and exclusion of other insects by supercolonies?What advantage does the ability to generate a genetically diverse reproductive caste give a single founding A. gracilipes queen?