Static allometries of caste-associated traits vary with genotype but not environment in the clonal raider ant

Polyphenic traits in animals often exhibit nonlinear scaling with body size. Static allometries (i.e., scaling relationships) themselves can exhibit plasticity, such that individuals of the same size and genotype differ in body proportions across different environments. In ants, both the larval environment and genotype regulate the expression of caste-associated traits, including body size and the number of ovarioles. However, it remains untested whether environmental variables independently regulate caste-associated traits or if they covary due to coupled developmental mechanisms. If caste traits are regulated independently, developmental plasticity should affect both trait expression and the scaling relationships between traits. Using the clonal raider ant, Ooceraea biroi, we tested this by manipulating the rearing environment of genetically identical larvae. We found that caregiver genotype, temperature, and food quantity influenced caste morphology strictly in tandem with body ..., , # Static allometries of caste-associated traits vary with genotype but not environment in the clonal raider ant

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf2c8](10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf2c8)

## Description of the data and file structure

We use the clonal raider ant *Ooceraea biroi* to investigate whether the developmental plasticity of caste-associated traits is strictly tied to plasticity in body size, or whether the static allometries of these traits themselves can shift. Additionally, we test whether static allometry differs among three closely related clonal genotypes—A, B, and M.

**Experiment 1:**

To assess environmental effects on intercaste development and trait allometry, we established four experimental conditions. Ten colonies with line B caregivers were maintained at 28°C and fed every 48 hours with 16 frozen *Solenopsis invicta* pupae and/or larvae (i.e., well-fed). Ten colonies with line A caregivers were also well-fed at 28°C, while another ten were well-fed but kept at 23°C. A four...,