C1139 Social Insects. Course Information
Social Insects: C1139
Year 3. Department of Biological & Environmental Science
Teaching staff
Coordinator: Professor Francis L. W. Ratnieks
Other Sussex lecturer: Professor Jeremy P. Field
Guest lecturer: Professor J. J. “Koos” Boomsma (University of Copenhagen)
Course Outline
The eusocial insects comprise approximately 20,000 species of ants, termites, bees and wasps. Eusociality in these
groups has evolved 20-100MYA on approximately 10 occasions and has given rise to highly-organized societies with
up to 20 million individuals. Eusocial insects are of great economic and ecological importance. They are also key model
systems in many important areas of biology. Part 1 of the course will provide general background material on social
insects, before focusing in greater detail on three contrasting areas in which research on social insects is particularly
active: Part 2) Inclusive fitness theory and relatedness; Part 3) How insect societies are organized; Part 4) This will
address another active research area in social insect biology such as “Mutualisms and symbioses involving social
insects”, “Ecological importance of social insects”, “The evolution of eusociality in insects”, “Using social insects to
investigate sensory physiology”. There will also be 4 laboratory sessions on Getting to know the social insects,
The honey bee waggle dance, Determining kinship and using inclusive fitness theory, Organization of ant trail systems.
Learning Outcomes
A. General objectives (Part 1 of course)
1. Develop an understanding of the unique status of insect societies in biological evolution, and the value of social
insects as model organisms in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology.
2. Have a basic knowledge of social insect biology in areas of: systematics and diversity, modifications of individuals to
eusocial life, colony and individual life cycles, reproductive division of labour, division of labour among workers.
Specific objectives (Parts 2-4 of course)
1. To understand the component underpinnings of inclusive fitness theory (relatedness, reproductive value, mating
success) and how they fit together in the theory; to understand the application of the theory in the study of
reproductive manipulation and conflict, and the evolution of altruism. Students who can do this will be able to apply
inclusive fitness theory to other situations.
2. To have knowledge of the predictions and tests of inclusive fitness theory. Students should be able to explain these
using either verbal arguments, or by the use of equations, or both.
3. To understand how insect societies work as a unified whole through self-organization, and the types of information
and communication used to do this.
4. To understand two important principles in work organisation: division of labour and task partitioning.
5. To have a good understanding of how honey bees and Pharaoh’s ants use their communication systems to cause the
colony to forage more efficiently by sending foragers to where the food is.
6. To have a broad knowledge of some of the mutualisms and symbioses that involve social insects (pollination,
farming, etc.)
7. To acquire some practical skills by doing simple research on social insects in the lab sessions.
8. To obtain some training in communicating social insect biology to the public.
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C1139 Social Insects. Course Information
List of lectures, labs, and assessments
Autumn term Monday 5 October to Friday 11 December 2009
Lectures are in BSMS Teaching Room 2.10: Monday 1300-1400 & Wednesday 1000-1100.
Lectures 18-20 will be in the Freeman Centre
Part 1. Introduction and background to social insects
1
Mon 05 Oct
Why study social insects? (FR)
2
Wed 07 Oct
Why study social insects? (continued) (FR)
3
Mon 12 Oct
The individual (FR)
4
Wed 14 Oct
The society (FR)
Video Mon 19 Oct
For queen and colony
5
Wed 21 Oct
Biodiversity & systematics (FR)
6
Mon 26 Oct
Division of labour among workers (FR)
Part 2. Inclusive fitness theory and application to conflict and conflict resolution within insect societies
7
Wed 28 Oct
Kin value (FR)
8
Mon 02 Nov
Kin structure & relatedness (FR)
9
Wed 04 Nov
Sex allocation: predictions & tests (FR)
10
Mon 09 Nov
Reproductive queueing in primitively eusocial species: predictions and tests (JF)
11
Wed 11 Nov
Male production: predictions & tests (FR)
12
Mon 16 Nov
Female rearing conflict, synthesis & evolution of extreme altruism (FR)
Part 3. Organization of insect societies: coordinating many individuals to function effectively to a common goal
13
Wed 18 Nov
Principles of self organization (FR)
14
Mon 23 Nov
How honey bee colonies track rewarding food patches in their environment (FR)
15
Mon 30 Nov
Sophistication in the foraging trail networks of Pharaoh’s ants, Monomorium pharaonis (FR)
[Quiz Wed 02 Dec
Kinship and inclusive fitness theory (10% of course marks)—Part 2 of course]
16
Mon 07 Dec
Task partitioning in insect societies (FR)
17
Wed 09 Dec
Organization in small-colony species involving central control (JF)
Part 4. Additional topic: Fungus farming in social insects
Lectures 18-20 to take place c. 1400-1700/1730 in a mini-symposium in Room G24 of the Freeman Centre on campus
18
Wed 25 Nov
Symbioses and mutualisms involving social insects (JF/FR) (1400-1445, break 1445-1500)
19
Wed 25 Nov
Fungus farming in social insects (JB) (1500-1545, break 1545-1600)
20
Wed 25 Nov
Fungus farming in social insects (continued) (JB) (1600-1645)
Break followed by Final Discussion 1645-c. 1715; possible drink in The Swan, Falmer
FR
Professor Francis Ratnieks
JF
Professor Jeremy Field
JB
Professor J. J. “Koos” Boomsma
Laboratories
Venues: LASI (Laboratory of Apiculture & Social Insects) or seminar room (location to be confirmed).
Attendance is compulsory. Labs will not be graded and there will be no lab reports to hand in. However, the material
will be examined so students should attend and take notes. Lab 1 is relevant to Part 1 and will have at least one short
question in the final exam. Labs 2 and 4 are relevant to Part 3 and will each have at least one short question in the final
exam. Lab 2 is relevant to Part 2 and to the 10% quiz and will also have at least one short question in the final exam.
Lab. 1 Wed 7 Oct 1400-1700 (rain date Wed 14 Oct 1300-1600). Getting to know the social insects (LASI)
Lab. 2* Wed 21 Oct 1300-1600 & Thus 22 Oct 1300-1600. The honey bee waggle dance (LASI)
Lab. 3 Wed 11 Nov 1400-1700. Determining kinship and using inclusive fitness theory (Russell Building RB-32)
Lab. 4* Tues 1 Dec 1400-1700 & Wed 2 Dec 1400-1700. Organization of ant trail systems (LASI)
* note: surnames A-L will do the Wednesday lab, M-Z Thursday. If you have a clash, please swap with someone.
Assessment
10%
written work: summary of a paper on symbioses/mutualisms/fungus farming; students will be give a choice of
3-5 papers and will chose one; the summary will follow a format that you will be given; to be handed in by
1600 Tuesday 24 November,
10%
quiz: on kinship and inclusive fitness theory; 50 minutes, in lecture theatre, 1000 Wednesday 2 December.
10%
written work: 1-page educational pamphlet on an interesting and focused topic within social insects chosen by
the student; the pamphlet will follow a format that you will be given; to be handed in by 1600 Thursday 14
January 2010.
70%
final exam: 2 essays from choice of c. 4; c. 10 compulsory short questions; exam duration c. 2.5 hours.
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