GENETIC RELATEDNESS IN THE ANT CAMPONOTUS-HERCULEANUS - A COMPARISON OF ESTIMATES FROM ALLOZYME AND DNA MICROSATELLITE MARKERS

Genetic structure of Camponotus herculeanus populations was studied us ing both traditional allozyme markers and recently discovered DNA micr osatellites. Relatedness among worker nest mates was high in one study population (0.70), but lower in another (0.48). The estimates lower t han 0.75, together with the multilocus genotype patterns, indicate eit her multiple mating by queens, or multiple queens reproducing in the c olonies. These two could not be distinguished with the current data, a lthough multiple matings seem a more probable explanation for the rela tedness estimates bearing social biology of the species in mind. Inbre eding coefficients suggested random mating in both populations. Both a llozyme and DNA microsatellite markers gave the same result concerning genetic parameters estimated, but the higher variability of the micro satellites resulted in more precise estimates of both parameters.