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<p>High population density is generally predicted to intensify reproductive competition in polyandrous mating systems. In such systems, selection favours traits that increase a male’s share of paternity, including greater investment in sperm number or quality. In eusocial insects, reproductive competition is expressed at multiple biological scales, with males also representing the gametic output of the superorganism where colonies compete through the reproductive success of their males. We investigated how a superorganism, the western honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.), adjusts reproductive strategies in response to apiary density (i.e., increasing proximal population density). We hypothesised that honey bees experiencing high population densities would increase their reproductive investment as a colony, producing more males (drones), and individually, increasing sperm quality and/or quantity of drones. Across high-, medium-, and low-density scenarios, we measured colony investment (drone production) and individual investment (sperm quantity and viability). Colonies in high-density apiaries produced significantly more drone brood and their drones had higher sperm counts than those in low-density apiaries. However, the proportion of viable sperm did not differ significantly between drones across density treatments. Moreover, increased drone brood production was inversely associated with reduced worker comb production, suggesting a trade-off with colony maintenance. Our study highlights potential applications of single-organism sexual selection theory for understanding environmental pressures and adaptive reproductive responses in eusocial species, offering insight into how both individual and collective strategies shape reproductive outcomes of colonies.</p>

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Colony density influences colony demographics and reproductive investment in managed honey bees, Apis mellifera L.

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

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  • E. L. S. Carta,
  • C. J. Painting,
  • S. Birch,
  • A. N. Mortensen

摘要

High population density is generally predicted to intensify reproductive competition in polyandrous mating systems. In such systems, selection favours traits that increase a male’s share of paternity, including greater investment in sperm number or quality. In eusocial insects, reproductive competition is expressed at multiple biological scales, with males also representing the gametic output of the superorganism where colonies compete through the reproductive success of their males. We investigated how a superorganism, the western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), adjusts reproductive strategies in response to apiary density (i.e., increasing proximal population density). We hypothesised that honey bees experiencing high population densities would increase their reproductive investment as a colony, producing more males (drones), and individually, increasing sperm quality and/or quantity of drones. Across high-, medium-, and low-density scenarios, we measured colony investment (drone production) and individual investment (sperm quantity and viability). Colonies in high-density apiaries produced significantly more drone brood and their drones had higher sperm counts than those in low-density apiaries. However, the proportion of viable sperm did not differ significantly between drones across density treatments. Moreover, increased drone brood production was inversely associated with reduced worker comb production, suggesting a trade-off with colony maintenance. Our study highlights potential applications of single-organism sexual selection theory for understanding environmental pressures and adaptive reproductive responses in eusocial species, offering insight into how both individual and collective strategies shape reproductive outcomes of colonies.