The diversity of social complexity in termites
Cite this dataset
Revely, Lewis et al. (2024). The diversity of social complexity in termites [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs7x0
Abstract
Sociality underpins major evolutionary transitions and significantly influences the structure and function of complex ecosystems. Social insects, seen as the pinnacle of sociality, have traits like obligate sterility that are considered ‘master traits’, used as single phenotypic measures of this complexity. However, evidence is mounting that completely aligning both phenotypic and evolutionary social complexity, and having obligate sterility central to both, is erroneous. We hypothesise that obligate and functional sterility are insufficient in explaining the diversity of phenotypic social complexity in social insects. To test this, we explore the relative importance of these sterility traits in an understudied but diverse taxon: the termites. We compile the largest termite social complexity dataset to date, using specimen and literature data. We find that although functional and obligate sterility explain a significant proportion of variance, neither trait are adequate singular proxies for the phenotypic social complexity of termites. Further, we show both traits have only a weak association with the other social complexity traits within termites. These findings have ramifications for our general comprehension of the frameworks of phenotypic and evolutionary social complexity and their relationship with sterility.
README: The Diversity of Social Complexity in Termites
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs7x0
This repository includes the raw data (trait data, morphometric data and phylogenetic tree), scripts and supplementary material (S1 and supplementary results files) for the publication 'The Diversity of Social Complexity in Termites'.
Description of the data and file structure
Morphometric_data.csv is inputted into the DBscan.md which allows for the Helper polyphenism (HM) values to be created. This trait value alongside others that were inputted from the literature make up the Traitdata.csv file. This file and the Tree (Species_tree.nexus) are the input files for the analysis scripts (MCMCglmm.md and Phylogenetic_MANOVA.md). Finally, the outputs from this can be used to input into the script Figure_2_creation.md.
Morphometric_data.csv:
0- The first column denotes the replicate number of the particular species (which is denoted by the fifth column 'id').
HF- Hind femur length (mm)
FT- Front tibia length (mm)
HW- Head width (mm)
Traitdata.csv:
Species Name- the termite species' who's traits were analysed in this paper
HM- Helper polyphenism, The greater number of polyphenisms of workers and soldiers the greater number of specialised groups in a colony. 1-4 polyphenisms have been measured in this study.
NC- Nest complexity, three separate levels: 1) no structure, 2) subterranean structure, 3) above ground structure.
CS- Colony size, from 1-7, the number of units within a colony for a given species, logged.
FS- Functional sterility, This trait seperates termite species which have workers able to disperse to become primary reproductives (0, fertile workers/wood-dwelling) and those that cannot (1, functionally & obligately sterile workers/foraging).
OS- Obligate sterility, 0 or 1 where 1 is a species which has workers unable to take over the colony or found their own and 0 is anything else.
Species_tree.nexus: a 99 node tree of termite species for the analysis.
Sharing/Access information
Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data:
Funding
British Ecological Society, Award: LRB20/1005
Natural Environment Research Council, Award: NE/L002485/1