Clarification of the Red Queen Hypothesis in haplodiploid systems.
(Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera and several families of the Coccoidea (Iceryini and Neococcoidea))
While our research is inspired by practical studies on the honey bee (Apis mellifera), it is largely applicable to most of the other systems that use arrhenotoky as breeding strategy. The inspiration for the research came from studies done in this lab in 2011 (Stolle et al 2011) and in Zurich (Meznar et al 2010), showing that two social Hymenopteran species had amoung the highest observable rates of recombination in Bilteria. Interest in the Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH), arises from its role as currently the strongest argument in evolutionary circles for the evolution of sex and recombination.
The Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH) requires genetic interactions between the host and its parasites. To support the evolution of recombination at least two alleles are required, generally a two allele (A and B) and two locus (A/a and B/b) model system has been used. General definitions for interactions are the Matching Allele Model (MAM), Gene-for-gene (GfG) and Inverse Matching Allele Model (IMAM). The dynamics of these interactions are normally given by tables illustrated for haploid hosts and haploid parasites.
The main research topic of the project is to identify the differences that may occur between haplodiploid and diploid hosts, as a result of arrhenotoky. Such as: are differences in susceptibility to parasite strains between genders significant factors determining evolution of recombination? Are there differences in survival between the genders, and if so how large and in what direction? How do differences in the genetic interaction models effect the dynamics between haplodiploid and diploid host systems?
The tools that we are using to answer these questions are simulation and modeling. We have so far developed two models: one deterministic population genetic model, the other an individual based model. The integration of experimental network data is an aim within the individual based model. As well as used analytic tools to analyse key factors determining thresholds for the observation of different dynamics between diploid and haplodiploid hosts.