{
  "abstract": "Allometric evolution, changing how morphological traits scale disproportionately to body size, has fuelled adaptive radiations. In ants, allometry has facilitated the repeated evolution of a worker-soldier caste system. Here we reveal an unexpected scaling pattern, and its superorganismal regulation, within the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole . We discovered that antennal sizing between the small worker and the big soldier is identical, lacking inter-caste scaling (antennae-body scaling is decoupled) yet retaining intra-caste scaling. Furthermore, we have pinpointed the evolutionary origin of this decoupling. Finally, manipulations of social environment, developmental hormones, and interorgan signalling influences the modularity-integration of trait-body covariation, uncovering head-to-body decoupling and the production of novel nanosoldiers. Collectively, this challenges our previous understandings of trait covariation, modularity, and their regulation, from individual to society and across species.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biology, University of Ottawa",
    "Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Erica Vong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shannon Parisien"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Helene Orfali"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rajendhran Rajakumar",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7054-8619"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/64dw2r9hr64t9.bib",
  "cited_by": 5,
  "doi": "10.1073/pnas.2612172123",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "64dw2r9hr64t9",
  "issns": [
    "0027-8424",
    "1091-6490"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2612172123",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1109|Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220679075",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13663741",
  "pmid": "42837464",
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": "National Academy of Sciences",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/64dw2r9hr64t9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T13:20:51Z",
      "native_id": "W7220679075",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2612172123"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1109|Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Breaking trait scaling via the evolution and regulation of dimorphic decoupling in ants",
  "title_text": "Breaking trait scaling via the evolution and regulation of dimorphic decoupling in ants",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T13:20:51Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/64dw2r9hr64t9",
  "venue": "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences",
  "versions": []
}