Ecological and evolutionary consequences of worker morphological variation in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

For my dissertation, I approach the evolution of worker polymorphism at multiple biological levels, exploring both the evolutionary pattern of worker polymorphism and its functional consequences. My first chapter focus on the broad-scale patterns of worker morphology both in a deep-time evolutionary scope and global ecological context. In Chapter 1, I use phylogenetic comparative methods to analyze a newly created database of extant and extinct worker body size among ant genera. I also draw upon the large wealth of literature on the evolution of body size, extending it to include body size variation in eusocial taxa. Chapter 2 explores scaling constraints in bite force. Previous work suggests the scaling relationship between bite force and body size may be different within polymorphic species compared to across monomorphic species. Working primarily in the harvester ant genus Pogonomyrmex, this project combines biomechanical methods in a phylogenetic context. The final chapter explores the functional consequences of having a variable workforce with a focus on individual-level performance. In Chapter 3, I ask how worker morphological traits, including body size, correlate with trophic position, testing the hypotheses of functional traits in ant workers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Ecol, Evol, Conservation Biol

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Rivera, Michael

Contributors dc:contributor

• Suarez, Andrew
• Anderson, Philip S. L.
• Dolezal, Adam
• Fuller, Becky
• Johnson, Kevin P.

• Social Insects
• Macroevolution
• Ants

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Michael Rivera

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117670

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F117670