1
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Paraskevopoulos AW, Sanders NJ, Resasco J. Temperature-driven homogenization of an ant community over 60 years in a montane ecosystem. Ecology 2024; 105:e4302. [PMID: 38594213 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Identifying the mechanisms underlying the changes in the distribution of species is critical to accurately predict how species have responded and will respond to climate change. Here, we take advantage of a late-1950s study on ant assemblages in a canyon near Boulder, Colorado, USA, to understand how and why species distributions have changed over a 60-year period. Community composition changed over 60 years with increasing compositional similarity among ant assemblages. Community composition differed significantly between the periods, with aspect and tree cover influencing composition. Species that foraged in broader temperature ranges became more widespread over the 60-year period. Our work highlights that shifts in community composition and biotic homogenization can occur even in undisturbed areas without strong habitat degradation. We also show the power of pairing historical and contemporary data and encourage more mechanistic studies to predict species changes under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna W Paraskevopoulos
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Nathan J Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Julian Resasco
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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2
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Nelson RA, MacArthur-Waltz DJ, Gordon DM. Critical thermal limits and temperature-dependent walking speed may mediate coexistence between the native winter ant (Prenolepis imparis) and the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithemahumile). J Therm Biol 2023; 111:103392. [PMID: 36585081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Comparing the thermal tolerance and performance of native and invasive species from varying climatic origins may explain why some native and invasive species can coexist. We compared the thermal niches of an invasive and native ant species. The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is an invasive species that has spread to Mediterranean climates worldwide, where it is associated with losses in native arthropod biodiversity. In northern California, long-term surveys of ant biodiversity have shown that the winter ant (Prenolepis imparis) is the native species best able to coexist with Argentine ants. Both species tend hemipteran scales for food, and previous research suggests that these species' coexistence may depend on seasonal partitioning: winter ants are active primarily in the colder winter months, while Argentine ants are active primarily in the warmer months in northern California. We investigated the physiological basis of seasonal partitioning in Argentine and winter ants by a) measuring critical thermal limits, and b) comparing how ant walking speed varies with temperature. While both species had similar CTmax values, we found differences between the two species' critical thermal minima that may allow winter ants to remain functional at ecologically relevant temperatures between 0 and 2.5 °C. We also found that winter ants' walking speeds are significantly less temperature-dependent than those of Argentine ants. Winter ants walk faster than Argentine ants at low temperatures, which may allow the winter ants to remain active and forage at lower winter temperatures. These results suggest that partitioning based on differences in temperature tolerance promotes the winter ant's continued occupation of areas invaded by the Argentine ant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Nelson
- Stanford University Department of Biology, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States.
| | - Dylan J MacArthur-Waltz
- Stanford University Department of Biology, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States.
| | - Deborah M Gordon
- Stanford University Department of Biology, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States.
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3
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Comparing Ant Assemblages and Functional Groups across Urban Habitats and Seasons in an East Asia Monsoon Climate Area. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010040. [PMID: 36611650 PMCID: PMC9817932 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
China's East Asia monsoon zone is undergoing rapid land-use conversion and urbanization. Safeguarding remaining biodiversity requires reducing, mitigating, and/or eliminating the negative impacts of human-induced landscape modification. In this study, we sampled ground-dwelling ants at 40 plots over 12 continuous months in a suburban area in southwestern China to examine whether and how vegetation composition and habitat fragmentation affected species richness and assemblage composition for the general ant community and, specifically, for principal functional groups (including Opportunists and Generalized Myrmicinae). Warmer seasons were associated with a higher capture rate for all functional groups. Patterns of ant species richness among Opportunists were more sensitive to vegetation and fragmentation than for Generalized Myrmicinae, and these effects generally varied with season. Patterns of ant assemblage composition for Opportunists were exclusively sensitive to vegetation, whereas Generalized Myrmicinae were sensitive to both vegetation and fragmentation with variation among seasons. Overall, our findings highlight the important role of seasonality, vegetation composition, and habitat fragmentation in mediating the impacts of human-induced landscape modification on urbanized ant communities, which make an essential functional contribution to biodiversity in the East Asia monsoon zone.
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4
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Parr CL, Bishop TR. The response of ants to climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:3188-3205. [PMID: 35274797 PMCID: PMC9314018 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are one of the most dominant terrestrial organisms worldwide. They are hugely abundant, both in terms of sheer numbers and biomass, on every continent except Antarctica and are deeply embedded within a diversity of ecological networks and processes. Ants are also eusocial and colonial organisms-their lifecycle is built on the labor of sterile worker ants who support a small number of reproductive individuals. Given the climatic changes that our planet faces, we need to understand how various important taxonomic groups will respond; this includes the ants. In this review, we synthesize the available literature to tackle this question. The answer is complicated. The ant literature has focused on temperature, and we broadly understand the ways in which thermal changes may affect ant colonies, populations, and communities. In general, we expect that species living in the Tropics, and in thermally variable microhabitats, such as the canopy and leaf litter environments, will be negatively impacted by rising temperatures. Species living in the temperate zones and those able to thermally buffer their nests in the soil or behaviorally avoid higher temperatures, however, are likely to be unaffected or may even benefit from a changed climate. How ants will respond to changes to other abiotic drivers associated with climate change is largely unknown, as is the detail on how altered ant populations and communities will ramify through their wider ecological networks. We discuss how eusociality may allow ants to adapt to, or tolerate, climate change in ways that solitary organisms cannot and we identify key geographic and phylogenetic hotspots of climate vulnerability and resistance. We finish by emphasizing the key research questions that we need to address moving forward so that we may fully appreciate how this critical insect group will respond to the ongoing climate crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine L. Parr
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandWitsSouth Africa
| | - Tom R. Bishop
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
- School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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5
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Nascimento G, Câmara T, Arnan X. Critical thermal limits in ants and their implications under climate change. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1287-1305. [PMID: 35174946 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Critical thermal limits (CTLs) constrain the performance of organisms, shaping their abundance, current distributions, and future distributions. Consequently, CTLs may also determine the quality of ecosystem services as well as organismal and ecosystem vulnerability to climate change. As some of the most ubiquitous animals in terrestrial ecosystems, ants are important members of ecological communities. In recent years, an increasing body of research has explored ant physiological thermal limits. However, these CTL data tend to centre on a few species and biogeographical regions. To encourage an expansion of perspectives, we herein review the factors that determine ant CTLs and examine their effects on present and future species distributions and ecosystem processes. Special emphasis is placed on the implications of CTLs for safeguarding ant diversity and ant-mediated ecosystem services in the future. First, we compile, quantify, and categorise studies on ant CTLs based on study taxon, biogeographical region, methodology, and study question. Second, we use this comprehensive database to analyse the abiotic and biotic factors shaping ant CTLs. Our results highlight how CTLs may affect future distribution patterns and ecological performance in ants. Additionally, we identify the greatest remaining gaps in knowledge and create a research roadmap to promote rapid advances in this field of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo Nascimento
- Universidade de Pernambuco - Campus Garanhuns, Rua Capitão Pedro Rodrigues, 105 - São José, Garanhuns, 55294-902, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, Universidade de Pernambuco - Campus Petrolina, BR 203, KM 2 - Vila Eduardo, Petrolina, 56328-900, Brazil
| | - Talita Câmara
- Universidade de Pernambuco - Campus Garanhuns, Rua Capitão Pedro Rodrigues, 105 - São José, Garanhuns, 55294-902, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, Universidade de Pernambuco - Campus Petrolina, BR 203, KM 2 - Vila Eduardo, Petrolina, 56328-900, Brazil
| | - Xavier Arnan
- Universidade de Pernambuco - Campus Garanhuns, Rua Capitão Pedro Rodrigues, 105 - São José, Garanhuns, 55294-902, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, Universidade de Pernambuco - Campus Petrolina, BR 203, KM 2 - Vila Eduardo, Petrolina, 56328-900, Brazil.,CREAF, Campus de Bellaterra (UAB) Edifici C, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
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6
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Kolanowska M, Michalska E, Konowalik K. The impact of global warming on the niches and pollinator availability of sexually deceptive orchid with a single pollen vector. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148850. [PMID: 34246141 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Orchidaceae are among the most endangered plants in the world. Considering the sensitive nature of pollinator-plant relationship the most vulnerable are species which are dependent on a single pollen vector. In this paper the future distribution of suitable niches of Australian sexually deceptive orchid Leporella fimbriata and its pollinator (Myrmecia urens) was estimated using three machine learning algorithms. While the potential range of fringed hare orchid depending on modelling method will be larger or slightly reduced than currently observed, the ant will face significant loss of suitable niches. As a result of global warming the overlap of orchid and its only pollen vector will most probably decrease. The unavailability of pollen vector will lead to decreased reproductive success and as a result it will be a great threat for L. fimbriata existence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kolanowska
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland; Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute AS CR, Bělidla 4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ewa Michalska
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
| | - Kamil Konowalik
- Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Institute of Environmental Biology, Department of Plant Biology, Kożuchowska 5b, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland
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7
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Cuesta E, Lobo JM. Can the spectrophotometric response of the elytra explain environmental preferences? A study in seven Onthophagus species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2021; 225:112348. [PMID: 34742032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Beetles are the most successful and diversified animal taxa characterized by the possession of an external pair of sclerotized wings (elytra). Managing electromagnetic radiations could be one of the functions of the exoskeleton. We studied the spectrophotometric response to ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared radiations of the elytra of seven closely related and sympatric Onthophagus species to examine if the environmental preferences of these species could be associated with the spectrophotometric behaviour of their elytra. Our results indicated that sibling species can drastically differ in their environmental preferences but not in their spectrophotometric responses. However, our results corroborated that there are interspecific differences in the spectrophotometric characteristics of the elytra, which are mainly explained by morphological features. Among the examined morphological variables, darkness seems to be especially relevant as it facilitates the absorbance and obstructs the transmittance of visible and near-infrared radiations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Cuesta
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (C.S.I.C.), Madrid, Spain; Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge M Lobo
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (C.S.I.C.), Madrid, Spain.
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8
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Gotcha N, Machekano H, Cuthbert RN, Nyamukondiwa C. Heat tolerance may determine activity time in coprophagic beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1076-1086. [PMID: 32567803 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although reports have documented loss of species diversity and ecological services caused by stressful temperature changes that result from climate change, some species cope through behavioral compensation. As temperatures and magnitudes of temperature extremes increase, animals should compensate to maintain fitness (such as through temporary behavioral shifts in activity times). Appropriate timing of activity helps avoid competition across species. Although coprophagic dung beetles exhibit species-specific temporal activity times, it is unknown whether temperature drives evolution of these species-specific temporal activity times. Using nine dung beetle species (three each of diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal species), we explored differences in heat stress tolerance measured as critical thermal maxima (CTmax ; the highest temperature allowing activity) and heat knockdown time (HKDT; survival time under acute heat stress) across these species, and examined the results using a phylogenetically informed approach. Our results showed that day-active species had significantly higher CTmax (diurnal > crepuscular = nocturnal species), whereas crepuscular species had higher HKDT (crepuscular > nocturnal > diurnal species). There was no correlation between heat tolerance and body size across species with distinct temporal activity, and no significant phylogenetic constraint for activity. Species with higher CTmax did not necessarily have higher HKDT, which indicates that species may respond differently to diverse heat tolerance metrics. Acute heat tolerance for diurnal beetles indicates that this trait may constrain activity time and, under high acute temperatures with climate change, species may shift activity times in more benign environments. These results contribute to elucidate the evolution of foraging behavior and management of coprophagic beetle ecosystem services under changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonofo Gotcha
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
| | - Honest Machekano
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
| | - Ross N Cuthbert
- GEOMAR, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Casper Nyamukondiwa
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
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9
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Menzel F, Feldmeyer B. How does climate change affect social insects? CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:10-15. [PMID: 33545433 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change poses a major threat to global biodiversity, already causing sharp declines of populations and species. In some social insect species we already see advanced phenologies, changes in distribution ranges, and changes in abundance Rafferty (2017) and Diamond et al. (2017). Physiologically, social insects are no different from solitary insects, but they possess a number of characteristics that distinguish their response to climate change. Here, we examine these traits, which might enable them to cope better with climate change than solitary insects, but only in the short term. In addition, we discuss how climate change will alter biotic interactions and ecosystem functions, and how it will affect invasive social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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10
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Ayari A, Jelassi R, Ghemari C, Nasri-Ammar K. Field and laboratory experiments on the seasonal variation of the locomotor activity patterns in the desert terrestrial isopod Hemilepistus reaumurii. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2019.1600269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anas Ayari
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Raja Jelassi
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
- Depatment of biology, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Salammbô, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Chedliya Ghemari
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Karima Nasri-Ammar
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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11
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Lei Y, Jaleel W, Faisal Shahzad M, Ali S, Azad R, Muhammad Ikram R, Ali H, Ghramh HA, Ali Khan K, Qiu X, He Y, Lyu L. Effect of constant and fluctuating temperature on the circadian foraging rhythm of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:64-72. [PMID: 33424284 PMCID: PMC7783663 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding circadian foraging rhythms activity of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) foragers at different temperatures is an important step towards developing control measures in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. In this study, the circadian foraging rhythm activities of S. invicta foragersat different temperature were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Results indicated that the foraging activity increased after sunrise, and maximum foraging occurred at 14:00 (foraging rate was 69.22 ± 0.57 and 72.58 ± 1.15 foragers/min in the first and second year, respectively) in the tea fields of Guangzhou during autumn. Furthermore, foragers demonstrated circadian rhythms and exhibited a unimodal after 24 h. A significant correlation was found between foraging activity and temperature. S. invicta colonies were active at moderate soil temperatures (approximately 26.65 °C to 29.24 °C). The preferred temperature of the colonies was 26 °C, followed by 22 °C and 18 °C in the laboratory. The individual S. invicta activity was maximum at 17:00 (18.67 ± 1.66 times /10 min) and minimum at 5:00 (8.33 ± 2.51 times/10 min) at 26 °C. The fluctuating temperature had a significant impact on individual locomotor activity (r = 0.8979, P < 0.01) but did not alter the rhythm activity. Our results demonstrated that temperature might play an important role in circadian foraging rhythms activity of S. invicta. These results may have implications for the development of more effective fire ant management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyuan Lei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 7 Jinying Rd., Tianhe District 510640, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Waqar Jaleel
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 7 Jinying Rd., Tianhe District 510640, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Muhammad Faisal Shahzad
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
| | - Shahbaz Ali
- Fareed Biodiversity and Conservation Centre, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Rashid Azad
- Department of Entomology, The University of Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Rao Muhammad Ikram
- Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60,000 Pakistan
| | - Habib Ali
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Hamed A Ghramh
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia.,Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Ali Khan
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia.,Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xiaolong Qiu
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yurong He
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lihua Lyu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 7 Jinying Rd., Tianhe District 510640, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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12
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Boyle MJW, Bishop TR, Luke SH, Breugel M, Evans TA, Pfeifer M, Fayle TM, Hardwick SR, Lane‐Shaw RI, Yusah KM, Ashford ICR, Ashford OS, Garnett E, Turner EC, Wilkinson CL, Chung AYC, Ewers RM. Localised climate change defines ant communities in human‐modified tropical landscapes. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. W. Boyle
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore City Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong City Hong Kong
| | - Tom R. Bishop
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Sarah H. Luke
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich UK
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Michiel Breugel
- Forest GEOSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama
- Yale‐NUS College Singapore City Singapore
| | - Theodore A. Evans
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore City Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Australia
| | - Marion Pfeifer
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- School of Biology Newcastle University Newcastle Upon Tyne UK
| | - Tom M. Fayle
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah Malaysia
| | | | | | - Kalsum M. Yusah
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah Malaysia
| | | | - Oliver S. Ashford
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Integrative Oceanography Division Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego San Diego CA USA
| | - Emma Garnett
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Edgar C. Turner
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Clare L. Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore City Singapore
| | | | - Robert M. Ewers
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
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13
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Anoop K, Purbayan G, Sumana A. Faster transport through slower runs: ant relocation dynamics in nature. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2020.1844301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karunakaran Anoop
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Ghosh Purbayan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Annagiri Sumana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
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14
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Leahy L, Scheffers BR, Andersen AN, Hirsch BT, Williams SE. Vertical niche and elevation range size in tropical ants: Implications for climate resilience. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lily Leahy
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science College of Science & Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Brett R. Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Alan N. Andersen
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Casuarina NT Australia
| | - Ben T. Hirsch
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science College of Science & Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Stephen E. Williams
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science College of Science & Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
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15
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Kócsi Z, Murray T, Dahmen H, Narendra A, Zeil J. The Antarium: A Reconstructed Visual Reality Device for Ant Navigation Research. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:599374. [PMID: 33240057 PMCID: PMC7683616 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.599374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We constructed a large projection device (the Antarium) with 20,000 UV-Blue-Green LEDs that allows us to present tethered ants with views of their natural foraging environment. The ants walk on an air-cushioned trackball, their movements are registered and can be fed back to the visual panorama. Views are generated in a 3D model of the ants’ environment so that they experience the changing visual world in the same way as they do when foraging naturally. The Antarium is a biscribed pentakis dodecahedron with 55 facets of identical isosceles triangles. The length of the base of the triangles is 368 mm resulting in a device that is roughly 1 m in diameter. Each triangle contains 361 blue/green LEDs and nine UV LEDs. The 55 triangles of the Antarium have 19,855 Green and Blue pixels and 495 UV pixels, covering 360° azimuth and elevation from −50° below the horizon to +90° above the horizon. The angular resolution is 1.5° for Green and Blue LEDs and 6.7° for UV LEDs, offering 65,536 intensity levels at a flicker frequency of more than 9,000 Hz and a framerate of 190 fps. Also, the direction and degree of polarisation of the UV LEDs can be adjusted through polarisers mounted on the axles of rotary actuators. We build 3D models of the natural foraging environment of ants using purely camera-based methods. We reconstruct panoramic scenes at any point within these models, by projecting panoramic images onto six virtual cameras which capture a cube-map of images to be projected by the LEDs of the Antarium. The Antarium is a unique instrument to investigate visual navigation in ants. In an open loop, it allows us to provide ants with familiar and unfamiliar views, with completely featureless visual scenes, or with scenes that are altered in spatial or spectral composition. In closed-loop, we can study the behavior of ants that are virtually displaced within their natural foraging environment. In the future, the Antarium can also be used to investigate the dynamics of navigational guidance and the neurophysiological basis of ant navigation in natural visual environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Kócsi
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Trevor Murray
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Hansjürgen Dahmen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Clifton GT, Holway D, Gravish N. Vision does not impact walking performance in Argentine ants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/20/jeb228460. [PMID: 33067354 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.228460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many walking insects use vision for long-distance navigation, but the influence of vision on rapid walking performance that requires close-range obstacle detection and directing the limbs towards stable footholds remains largely untested. We compared Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) workers in light versus darkness while traversing flat and uneven terrain. In darkness, ants reduced flat-ground walking speeds by only 5%. Similarly, the approach speed and time to cross a step obstacle were not significantly affected by lack of lighting. To determine whether tactile sensing might compensate for vision loss, we tracked antennal motion and observed shifts in spatiotemporal activity as a result of terrain structure but not illumination. Together, these findings suggest that vision does not impact walking performance in Argentine ant workers. Our results help contextualize eye variation across ants, including subterranean, nocturnal and eyeless species that walk in complete darkness. More broadly, our findings highlight the importance of integrating vision, proprioception and tactile sensing for robust locomotion in unstructured environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenna T Clifton
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA .,Department of Biology, University of Portland, Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - David Holway
- Division of Biological Science, Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicholas Gravish
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Villalta I, Oms CS, Angulo E, Molinas-González CR, Devers S, Cerdá X, Boulay R. Does social thermal regulation constrain individual thermal tolerance in an ant species? J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2063-2076. [PMID: 32445419 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In ants, social thermal regulation is the collective maintenance of a nest temperature that is optimal for individual colony members. In the thermophilic ant Aphaenogaster iberica, two key behaviours regulate nest temperature: seasonal nest relocation and variable nest depth. Outside the nest, foragers must adapt their activity to avoid temperatures that exceed their thermal limits. It has been suggested that social thermal regulation constrains physiological and morphological thermal adaptations at the individual level. We tested this hypothesis by examining the foraging rhythms of six populations of A. iberica, which were found at different elevations (from 100 to 2,000 m) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of southern Spain. We tested the thermal resistance of individuals from these populations under controlled conditions. Janzen's climatic variability hypothesis (CVH) states that greater climatic variability should select for organisms with broader temperature tolerances. We found that the A. iberica population at 1,300 m experienced the most extreme temperatures and that ants from this population had the highest heat tolerance (LT50 = 57.55°C). These results support CVH's validity at microclimatic scales, such as the one represented by the elevational gradient in this study. Aphaenogaster iberica maintains colony food intake levels across different elevations and mean daily temperatures by shifting its rhythm of activity. This efficient colony-level thermal regulation and the significant differences in individual heat tolerance that we observed among the populations suggest that behaviourally controlled thermal regulation does not constrain individual physiological adaptations for coping with extreme temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Villalta
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, Parc de Grandmont, Tours, France.,Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Cristela Sánchez Oms
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, Parc de Grandmont, Tours, France.,Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Elena Angulo
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Séverine Devers
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, Parc de Grandmont, Tours, France
| | - Xim Cerdá
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Raphaël Boulay
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, Parc de Grandmont, Tours, France
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Calazans EG, Costa FVD, Cristiano MP, Cardoso DC. Daily Dynamics of an Ant Community in a Mountaintop Ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:383-390. [PMID: 32078670 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Abiotic conditions have a great influence on the structure of biological communities, especially considering ectothermic organisms, such as ants. In this study, we tested whether the daily temporal dynamics of an ant community in a tropical mountainous ecosystem is driven by daily fluctuations of abiotic factors, such as temperature and humidity. We also investigated whether the strong oscillation in daily temperature leads to high heterogeneity in ant species thermal responses. We have found that air and soil temperatures positively influenced the richness and frequency of foraging ants, while air humidity caused the opposite effect. Ant activity followed daily temperature fluctuations, which resulted in subtle differences in foraging patterns featured by heat-tolerant and heat-intolerant species. Moreover, the studied ant community exhibited broad and highly overlapped thermal responses, suggesting a likely resilience under temperature oscillations. Lastly, identifying how species traits are linked to oscillations in abiotic conditions is a necessary step to predict the effects of future climatic changes on biological community dynamics and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloá Gonçalves Calazans
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Vieira da Costa
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Maykon Passos Cristiano
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Departamento do Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Danon Clemes Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Departamento do Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
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19
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Ayari A, Jelassi R, Ghemari C, Nasri–Ammar K. Effect of season and sex on the locomotor activity rhythm of the desert isopod Hemilepistus reamurii. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2020.1714841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anas Ayari
- Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06) Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Raja Jelassi
- Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06) Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
- National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Salammbô, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Chedliya Ghemari
- Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06) Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
| | - Karima Nasri–Ammar
- Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06) Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
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20
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Lei Y, Zhou Y, Lü L, He Y. Rhythms in Foraging Behavior and Expression Patterns of the Foraging Gene in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in relation to Photoperiod. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 112:2923-2930. [PMID: 31237954 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toz175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The foraging gene (for) is associated with foraging and other associated behaviors in social insect species. Photoperiod is known to entrain the rhythmic biological functions of ants; however, how photoperiod might influence the intensity and duration of foraging, and the expression of for, remains unexplored. This study determined the correlation between rhythm in foraging behavior and expression of the foraging gene (Sifor) mRNA in red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Foragers were exposed to three photoperiod conditions (12:12 [L:D], 24:0 [L:D], and 0:24 [L:D]) in the laboratory and foraging activities were recorded using a video-computer recording system. Sifor expression in the foragers was tested using real-time reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Results revealed that foraging activity rhythm and Sifor expression profile were unimodal under all three photoperiod conditions. Levels of foraging activity were associated with photoperiodic modification, a stable phase difference between the onset of activity and the onset of gene expression was discovered. Light-dark transients stimulated foraging activity in 12:12 (L:D). There were significant daily oscillations (amplitude of 0.21 ± 0.08 for 12:12 [L:D], 0.12 ± 0.02 for 24:0 [L:D], and 0.09 ± 0.01 for 0:24 [L:D]) in the expression of Sifor. A positive relationship (r = 0.5903, P < 0.01) was found between the expression level of Sifor and foraging activity, which indicated that Sifor is linked to some extent to foraging behavior. Our results demonstrated that foragers could adjust the rhythms in foraging behavior according to light-dark cycle and suggested that Sifor may play an important role in the response of S. invicta to photoperiod.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyuan Lei
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Yangyang Zhou
- College of Agriculture, South China Agriculture University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Lihua Lü
- Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Yurong He
- College of Agriculture, South China Agriculture University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
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21
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Wehner R. The Cataglyphis Mahrèsienne: 50 years of Cataglyphis research at Mahrès. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:641-659. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01333-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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22
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Murray T, Kocsi Z, Dahmen H, Narendra A, Le Möel F, Wystrach A, Zeil J. The role of attractive and repellent scene memories in ant homing (Myrmecia croslandi). J Exp Biol 2019; 223:jeb.210021. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.210021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Solitary foraging ants rely on vision when travelling along routes and when pinpointing their nest. We tethered foragers of Myrmecia croslandi on a trackball and recorded their intended movements when the trackball was located on their normal foraging corridor (on-route), above their nest and at a location several meters away where they have never been before (off-route). We find that at on- and off-route locations, most ants walk in the nest or foraging direction and continue to do so for tens of metres in a straight line. In contrast, above the nest, ants walk in random directions and change walking direction frequently. In addition, the walking direction of ants above the nest oscillates at a fine scale, reflecting search movements that are absent from the paths of ants at the other locations. An agent-based simulation shows that the behaviour of ants at all three locations can be explained by the integration of attractive and repellent views directed towards or away from the nest, respectively. Ants are likely to acquire such views via systematic scanning movements during their learning walks. The model predicts that ants placed in a completely unfamiliar environment should behave as if at the nest, which our subsequent experiments confirmed. We conclude first, that the ants’ behaviour at release sites is exclusively driven by what they currently see and not by information on expected outcomes of their behaviour. Second, that navigating ants might continuously integrate attractive and repellent visual memories. We discuss the benefits of such a procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Murray
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Zoltan Kocsi
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Florent Le Möel
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, University Paul Sabatier/CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Antoine Wystrach
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, University Paul Sabatier/CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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23
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Owens ACS, Lewis SM. The impact of artificial light at night on nocturnal insects: A review and synthesis. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11337-11358. [PMID: 30519447 PMCID: PMC6262936 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, advances in lighting technology have precipitated exponential increases in night sky brightness worldwide, raising concerns in the scientific community about the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on crepuscular and nocturnal biodiversity. Long-term records show that insect abundance has declined significantly over this time, with worrying implications for terrestrial ecosystems. The majority of investigations into the vulnerability of nocturnal insects to artificial light have focused on the flight-to-light behavior exhibited by select insect families. However, ALAN can affect insects in other ways as well. This review proposes five categories of ALAN impact on nocturnal insects, highlighting past research and identifying key knowledge gaps. We conclude with a summary of relevant literature on bioluminescent fireflies, which emphasizes the unique vulnerability of terrestrial light-based communication systems to artificial illumination. Comprehensive understanding of the ecological impacts of ALAN on diverse nocturnal insect taxa will enable researchers to seek out methods whereby fireflies, moths, and other essential members of the nocturnal ecosystem can coexist with humans on an increasingly urbanized planet.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara M. Lewis
- Department of BiologyTufts UniversityMedfordMassachusetts
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24
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Burford BP, Lee G, Friedman DA, Brachmann E, Khan R, MacArthur-Waltz DJ, McCarty AD, Gordon DM. Foraging behavior and locomotion of the invasive Argentine ant from winter aggregations. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202117. [PMID: 30092038 PMCID: PMC6084982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The collective behavior of ant colonies, and locomotion of individuals within a colony, both respond to changing conditions. The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) thrives in Mediterranean climates with hot, dry summers and colder, wet winters. However, its foraging behavior and locomotion has rarely been studied in the winter. We examined how the foraging behavior of three distinct L. humile colonies was related to environmental conditions and the locomotion of workers during winter in northern California. We found that colonies foraged most between 10 and 15°C, regardless of the maximum daily temperature. Worker walking speed was positively associated with temperature (range 6-24°C) and negatively associated with humidity (range 25-93%RH). All colonies foraged during all day and night hours in a predictable daily cycle, with a correlation between the rate of incoming and outgoing foragers. Foraging activity was unrelated to the activity of a competing native ant species, Prenolepis imparis, which was present in low abundance, and ceased only during heavy rain when ants left foraging trails and aggregated in small sheltered areas on trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin P. Burford
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Gail Lee
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel A. Friedman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Esmé Brachmann
- College of Letters & Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Rebia Khan
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | | | - Aidan D. McCarty
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Deborah M. Gordon
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
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25
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Alkanhal R, Alhoshan I, Aldakhil S, Alromaih N, Alharthy N, Salam M, Almutairi AF. Prevalence triggers and clinical severity associated with anaphylaxis at a tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e11582. [PMID: 30075528 PMCID: PMC6081188 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000011582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaphylaxis is a systemic and hypersensitive allergic reaction caused by various triggers such as environmental, food, drug, and insects. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence, triggers, and clinical severity of anaphylaxis in 2 emergency departments (EDs) in Saudi Arabia.A cross-sectional study based on a screening of medical records was conducted between January 2015 and August 2017, to identify confirmed cases of anaphylaxis. Patient characteristics were age, sex, previously known allergies, and the triggering allergens. The clinical severity was measured on the basis of the anaphylaxis international assessment tool (mild, moderate, severe). Factors associated with triggers and severities were identified.The period prevalence of anaphylaxis among ED admissions was 0.00026%. Pediatric cases (age 1-16 years) were 98 (60.9%), while adults (age 17-40 years) were 63 (39.1%). Triggers of anaphylaxis were food 63 (39.1%), insects 62 (38.5%), drugs 28 (17.4%), and environmental 8 (5.0%). Mild symptoms were observed in 41 (25%) of the sample, while moderate and severe symptoms were observed in 116 (72%) and 4 (3%) of the cases, respectively. Adults were 1.25 times more likely to endure drug allergy rather than food allergy, than pediatrics with adj.P = .015. ED admissions in summer season were 1.29 less likely to be due to drug allergy rather than insect allergy, compared with admissions in winter season, adj.P = .01. Cases with known allergy were 1.72 times less likely to endure drug allergy rather than food allergy, compared with those with unknown allergy, adj.P = .001. Adults were 4.79 more likely to endure severe symptoms than pediatrics with adj.P = .001.Although the prevalence of anaphylaxis was higher in pediatrics, yet the disease was more severe in adults. Special consideration should be paid to anaphylaxis triggered by insect bites in summer, and food allergy among cases with unknown allergy upon ED admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghad Alkanhal
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh
| | - Ibrahim Alhoshan
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh
| | - Sadal Aldakhil
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh
| | | | - Nesrin Alharthy
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Pediatrics Emergency Department, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Salam
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh
| | - Adel F. Almutairi
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center/King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh
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26
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Gray REJ, Ewers RM, Boyle MJW, Chung AYC, Gill RJ. Effect of tropical forest disturbance on the competitive interactions within a diverse ant community. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5131. [PMID: 29572517 PMCID: PMC5865194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23272-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how anthropogenic disturbance influences patterns of community composition and the reinforcing interactive processes that structure communities is important to mitigate threats to biodiversity. Competition is considered a primary reinforcing process, yet little is known concerning disturbance effects on competitive interaction networks. We examined how differences in ant community composition between undisturbed and disturbed Bornean rainforest, is potentially reflected by changes in competitive interactions over a food resource. Comparing 10 primary forest sites to 10 in selectively-logged forest, we found higher genus richness and diversity in the primary forest, with 18.5% and 13.0% of genera endemic to primary and logged respectively. From 180 hours of filming bait cards, we assessed ant-ant interactions, finding that despite considered aggression over food sources, the majority of ant interactions were neutral. Proportion of competitive interactions at bait cards did not differ between forest type, however, the rate and per capita number of competitive interactions was significantly lower in logged forest. Furthermore, the majority of genera showed large changes in aggression-score with often inverse relationships to their occupancy rank. This provides evidence of a shuffled competitive network, and these unexpected changes in aggressive relationships could be considered a type of competitive network re-wiring after disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross E J Gray
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.
| | - Robert M Ewers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Michael J W Boyle
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Arthur Y C Chung
- Forest Research Centre, Forestry Department, P.O. Box 1407, 90715, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Richard J Gill
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
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27
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Food source quality and ant dominance hierarchy influence the outcomes of ant-plant interactions in an arid environment. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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28
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Alves VM, Hernández MIM, Lobo JM. Elytra Absorb Ultraviolet Radiation but Transmit Infrared Radiation in Neotropical Canthon Species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae). Photochem Photobiol 2018; 94:532-539. [PMID: 29368396 DOI: 10.1111/php.12889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Strategies to deal with global radiation may be related to important aspects of species biology and ecology by reflecting, transmitting or absorbing the radiation of varying wavelengths differently. The elytra capacity to manage infrared, visible and ultraviolet radiations (from 185 to 1400 nm) was assessed with a spectrophotometric analysis in five Canthon species of dung beetles; we calculated the reflectance, transmittance and absorbance capacity of the elytra of these species. These species have different ecologies: two species preferentially inhabit forest areas (Canthon angularis and Canthon lividus lividus), two species preferentially inhabit open areas (Canthon chalybaeus and Canthon tetraodon) including agricultural crops, and one species does not present a clear habitat preference and can be found in both habitats (Canthon quinquemaculatus). All the species show a similar pattern in which the light from shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies is almost entirely absorbed by the elytra, while radiation from longer wavelengths and lower frequencies can mostly pass through the elytra. However, C. quinquemaculatus seems to have significantly higher rates of reflectance and transmittance in the visible- and near-infrared spectrum. This different pattern found in C. quinquemaculatus may be associated with its capacity to establish populations both in agricultural and forest areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Alves
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Malva I M Hernández
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Jorge M Lobo
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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Jayatilaka P, Murray T, Narendra A, Zeil J. The choreography of learning walks in the Australian jack jumper ant Myrmecia croslandi. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.185306. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.185306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We provide a detailed analysis of the learning walks performed by Myrmecia croslandi ants at the nest during which they acquire visual information on its location. Most learning walks of 12 individually marked naïve ants took place in the morning with a narrow time window separating the first two learning walks, which most often occurred on the same day. Naïve ants performed between 2 to 7 walks over up to 4 consecutive days before heading out to forage. On subsequent walks naïve ants tend to explore the area around the nest in new compass directions. During learning walks ants move along arcs around the nest while performing oscillating scanning movements. In a regular temporal sequence, the ants’ gaze oscillates between the nest direction and the direction pointing away from the nest. Ants thus experience a sequence of views roughly across the nest and away from the nest from systematically spaced vantage points around the nest. We show further that ants leaving the nest for a foraging trip often walk in an arc around the nest on the opposite side to the intended foraging direction, performing a scanning routine indistinguishable from that of a learning walk. These partial learning walks are triggered by disturbance around the nest and may help returning ants with reorienting when overshooting the nest, which they frequently do. We discuss what is known about learning walks in different ant species and their adaptive significance for acquiring robust navigational memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyankarie Jayatilaka
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra ACT2601, Australia
| | - Trevor Murray
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra ACT2601, Australia
| | - Ajay Narendra
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra ACT2601, Australia
- Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 205 Culloden Road, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra ACT2601, Australia
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30
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Speights CJ, Harmon JP, Barton BT. Contrasting the potential effects of daytime versus nighttime warming on insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 23:1-6. [PMID: 29129273 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mean increases in temperatures associated with climate change are largely driven by increases in minimum (nighttime) temperatures; however, most climate change studies disproportionately increase maximum (daytime) temperatures. We review current literature to compare the potential effects of increasing daytime and nighttime temperatures on insects and their interactions within ecological communities. Although few studies have explicitly addressed the effects of nighttime warming, we draw from broader literature on how insects are affected by temperature to identify possible mechanisms that the timing (day or night) of warming may affect insects. Specifically, we discuss daily temperature variation, thermal performance curves, behaviour and activity patterns, nighttime recovery from hot days, and bottom-up effects mediated by plants. Although limited, the existing evidence suggests nighttime and daytime warming can have different effects, and thus we encourage scientists to use the most realistic warming treatments possible to truly understand how insects and their communities will be affected by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cori J Speights
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States
| | - Jason P Harmon
- Department of Entomology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, United States
| | - Brandon T Barton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States.
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31
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Oms CS, Cerdá X, Boulay R. Is phenotypic plasticity a key mechanism for responding to thermal stress in ants? Naturwissenschaften 2017; 104:42. [PMID: 28470449 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1464-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Unlike natural selection, phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to respond quickly to changing environmental conditions. However, plasticity may not always be adaptive. In insects, body size and other morphological measurements have been shown to decrease as temperature increases. This relationship may lead to a physiological conflict in ants, where larger body size and longer legs often confer better thermal resistance. Here, we tested the effect of developmental temperature (20, 24, 28 or 32 °C) on adult thermal resistance in the thermophilic ant species Aphaenogaster senilis. We found that no larval development occurred at 20 °C. However, at higher temperatures, developmental speed increased as expected and smaller adults were produced. In thermal resistance tests, we found that ants reared at 28 and 32 °C had half-lethal temperatures that were 2 °C higher than those of ants reared at 24 °C. Thus, although ants reared at higher temperatures were smaller in size, they were nonetheless more thermoresistant. These results show that A. senilis can exploit phenotypic plasticity to quickly adjust its thermal resistance to local conditions and that this process is independent of morphological adaptations. This mechanism may be particularly relevant given current rapid climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristela Sánchez Oms
- Estación Biologica de Doñana, CSIC, Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
- Institute of Insect Biology, Parc de Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Xim Cerdá
- Estación Biologica de Doñana, CSIC, Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Raphaël Boulay
- Institute of Insect Biology, Parc de Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France.
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32
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Freas CA, Narendra A, Cheng K. Compass cues used by a nocturnal bull ant, Myrmecia midas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:1578-1585. [PMID: 28183865 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.152967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Ants use both terrestrial landmarks and celestial cues to navigate to and from their nest location. These cues persist even as light levels drop during the twilight/night. Here, we determined the compass cues used by a nocturnal bull ant, Myrmecia midas, in which the majority of individuals begin foraging during the evening twilight period. Myrmecia midas foragers with vectors of ≤5 m when displaced to unfamiliar locations did not follow the home vector, but instead showed random heading directions. Foragers with larger home vectors (≥10 m) oriented towards the fictive nest, indicating a possible increase in cue strength with vector length. When the ants were displaced locally to create a conflict between the home direction indicated by the path integrator and terrestrial landmarks, foragers oriented using landmark information exclusively and ignored any accumulated home vector regardless of vector length. When the visual landmarks at the local displacement site were blocked, foragers were unable to orient to the nest direction and their heading directions were randomly distributed. Myrmecia midas ants typically nest at the base of the tree and some individuals forage on the same tree. Foragers collected on the nest tree during evening twilight were unable to orient towards the nest after small lateral displacements away from the nest. This suggests the possibility of high tree fidelity and an inability to extrapolate landmark compass cues from information collected on the tree and at the nest site to close displacement sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody A Freas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ken Cheng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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33
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Kaur R, Joseph J, Anoop K, Sumana A. Characterization of recruitment through tandem running in an Indian queenless ant Diacamma indicum. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:160476. [PMID: 28280548 PMCID: PMC5319314 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Tandem running is a primitive recruitment method employed by many ant genera. This study characterizes this behaviour during the recruitment of colony mates to a new nest in an Indian ant Diacamma indicum. Tandem leaders who have knowledge of the new nest lead a single follower at a time, to the destination by maintaining physical contact. In order to characterize tandem running, we captured and analysed 621 invitations, 217 paths and 226 termination events. Remarkably, not a single colony member was lost. While invitations were stereotypic in behaviour, termination was not. Analysis of speed revealed that the average transport speed was 4.2 cm s-1. Coupled adult-brood transport was slower than other transports but was more efficient than individual trips. Comparing tandem running with other popular recruitment methods in ants allows us to postulate that even though tandem running is primitive it is probably just another means to achieve the same end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajbir Kaur
- Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
- Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Joby Joseph
- Center for Neural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Karunakaran Anoop
- Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Annagiri Sumana
- Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
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34
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Monaco CJ, Wethey DS, Helmuth B. Thermal sensitivity and the role of behavior in driving an intertidal predator–prey interaction. ECOL MONOGR 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristián J. Monaco
- Department of Biological Sciences University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina 29208 USA
| | - David S. Wethey
- Department of Biological Sciences University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina 29208 USA
| | - Brian Helmuth
- Marine Science Center Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
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35
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Narendra A, Greiner B, Ribi WA, Zeil J. Light and dark adaptation mechanisms in the compound eyes of Myrmecia ants that occupy discrete temporal niches. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:2435-42. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.142018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Ants of the Australian genus Myrmecia partition their foraging niche temporally, allowing them to be sympatric with overlapping foraging requirements. We used histological techniques to study the light and dark adaptation mechanisms in the compound eyes of diurnal (Myrmecia croslandi), crepuscular (M. tarsata, M. nigriceps) and nocturnal ants (M. pyriformis). We found that, except in the day-active species, all ants have a variable primary pigment cell pupil that constricts the crystalline cone in bright light to control for light flux. We show for the nocturnal M. pyriformis that the constriction of the crystalline cone by the primary pigment cells is light dependent whereas the opening of the aperture is regulated by an endogenous rhythm. In addition, in the light-adapted eyes of all species, the retinular cell pigment granules radially migrate towards the rhabdom, a process that in both the day-active M. croslandi and the night-active M. pyriformis is driven by ambient light intensity. Visual system properties thus do not restrict crepuscular and night-active ants to their temporal foraging niche, while day-active ants require high light intensities to operate. We discuss the ecological significance of these adaptation mechanisms and their role in temporal niche partitioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 205 Culloden Road, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Birgit Greiner
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Willi A. Ribi
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Lund, Lund S-22362, Sweden
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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36
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West DC, Post DM. Impacts of warming revealed by linking resource growth rates with consumer functional responses. J Anim Ecol 2016; 85:671-80. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Derek C. West
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Yale University 165 Prospect St New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | - David M. Post
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Yale University 165 Prospect St New Haven CT 06511 USA
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37
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Ogawa Y, Falkowski M, Narendra A, Zeil J, Hemmi JM. Three spectrally distinct photoreceptors in diurnal and nocturnal Australian ants. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20150673. [PMID: 25994678 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ants are thought to be special among Hymenopterans in having only dichromatic colour vision based on two spectrally distinct photoreceptors. Many ants are highly visual animals, however, and use vision extensively for navigation. We show here that two congeneric day- and night-active Australian ants have three spectrally distinct photoreceptor types, potentially supporting trichromatic colour vision. Electroretinogram recordings show the presence of three spectral sensitivities with peaks (λmax) at 370, 450 and 550 nm in the night-active Myrmecia vindex and peaks at 370, 470 and 510 nm in the day-active Myrmecia croslandi. Intracellular electrophysiology on individual photoreceptors confirmed that the night-active M. vindex has three spectral sensitivities with peaks (λmax) at 370, 430 and 550 nm. A large number of the intracellular recordings in the night-active M. vindex show unusually broad-band spectral sensitivities, suggesting that photoreceptors may be coupled. Spectral measurements at different temporal frequencies revealed that the ultraviolet receptors are comparatively slow. We discuss the adaptive significance and the probability of trichromacy in Myrmecia ants in the context of dim light vision and visual navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Ogawa
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute (M092), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Marcin Falkowski
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute (M092), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute (M092), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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38
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Alma AM, Farji-Brener AG, Elizalde L. Gone with the wind: short- and long-term responses of leaf-cutting ants to the negative effect of wind on their foraging activity. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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39
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Gunderson AR, Leal M. A conceptual framework for understanding thermal constraints on ectotherm activity with implications for predicting responses to global change. Ecol Lett 2015; 19:111-120. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex R. Gunderson
- Department of Biology and Romberg Tiburon Center San Francisco State University 3150 Paradise Dr. Tiburon CA 94920 USA
- Department of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley CA 94720‐3140 USA
| | - Manuel Leal
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri 105 Tucker Hall Columbia MO 65211 USA
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40
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Characterizing the effects of temperature on behavioral periodicity in golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata). ECOL INFORM 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2015.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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41
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Munyai TC, Foord SH. Temporal patterns of ant diversity across a mountain with climatically contrasting aspects in the tropics of Africa. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122035. [PMID: 25774670 PMCID: PMC4361397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Factors that drive species richness over space and time are still poorly understood and are often context specific. Identifying these drivers for ant diversity has become particularly relevant within the context of contemporary global change events. We report on a long-term bi-annual (wet and dry seasons), standardized sampling of epigeal ants over a five year period on the mesic and arid aspects of an inselberg (Soutpansberg Mountain Range) in the tropics of Africa. We detail seasonal, annual and long-term trends of species density, test the relative contribution of geometric constraints, energy, available area, climate, local environmental variables, time, and space in explaining ant species density patterns through Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) where replicates were included as random factors to account for temporal pseudo-replication. Seasonal patterns were very variable and we found evidence of decreased seasonal variation in species density with increased elevation. The extent and significance of a decrease in species density with increased elevation varied with season. Annual patterns point to an increase in ant diversity over time. Ant density patterns were positively correlated with mean monthly temperature but geometric constraints dominated model performance while soil characteristics were minor correlates. These drivers and correlates accounted for all the spatio-temporal variability in the database. Ant diversity was therefore mainly determined by geometric constraints and temperature while soil characteristics (clay and carbon content) accounted for smaller but significant amounts of variation. This study documents the role of season, elevation and their interaction in affecting ant species densities while highlighting the importance of neutral processes and temperature in driving these patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinandavha Caswell Munyai
- Centre for Invasion Biology and Department of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Stefan Hendrik Foord
- Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Research Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change, and Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa
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42
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Abstract
Thermal activity constraints play a major role in many aspects of ectotherm ecology, including vulnerability to climate change. Therefore, there is strong interest in developing general models of the temperature dependence of activity. Several models have been put forth (explicitly or implicitly) to describe such constraints; nonetheless, tests of the predictive abilities of these models are lacking. In addition, most models consider activity as a threshold trait instead of considering continuous changes in the vigor of activity among individuals. Using field data for a tropical lizard (Anolis cristatellus) and simulations parameterized by our observations, we determine how well various threshold and continuous-activity models match observed activity patterns. No models accurately predicted activity under all of the thermal conditions that we considered. In addition, simulations showed that the performance of threshold models decreased as temperatures increased, which is a troubling finding given the threat of global climate change. We also find that activity rates are more sensitive to temperature than are the physiological traits often used as a proxy for fitness. We present a model of thermal constraint on activity that integrates aspects of both the threshold model and the continuous-activity model, the general features of which are supported by activity data from other species. Overall, our results demonstrate that greater attention should be given to fine-scale patterns of thermal constraint on activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex R Gunderson
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
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43
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Paget CM, Schwartz JM, Delneri D. Environmental systems biology of cold-tolerant phenotype in Saccharomyces species adapted to grow at different temperatures. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:5241-57. [PMID: 25243355 PMCID: PMC4283049 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Temperature is one of the leading factors that drive adaptation of organisms and ecosystems. Remarkably, many closely related species share the same habitat because of their different temporal or micro-spatial thermal adaptation. In this study, we seek to find the underlying molecular mechanisms of the cold-tolerant phenotype of closely related yeast species adapted to grow at different temperatures, namely S. kudriavzevii CA111 (cryo-tolerant) and S. cerevisiae 96.2 (thermo-tolerant). Using two different systems approaches, i. thermodynamic-based analysis of a genome-scale metabolic model of S. cerevisiae and ii. large-scale competition experiment of the yeast heterozygote mutant collection, genes and pathways important for the growth at low temperature were identified. In particular, defects in lipid metabolism, oxidoreductase and vitamin pathways affected yeast fitness at cold. Combining the data from both studies, a list of candidate genes was generated and mutants for two predicted cold-favouring genes, GUT2 and ADH3, were created in two natural isolates. Compared with the parental strains, these mutants showed lower fitness at cold temperatures, with S. kudriavzevii displaying the strongest defect. Strikingly, in S. kudriavzevii, these mutations also significantly improve the growth at warm temperatures. In addition, overexpression of ADH3 in S. cerevisiae increased its fitness at cold. These results suggest that temperature-induced redox imbalances could be compensated by increased glycerol accumulation or production of cytosolic acetaldehyde through the deletion of GUT2 or ADH3, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Mary Paget
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
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44
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Ramirez-Esquivel F, Zeil J, Narendra A. The antennal sensory array of the nocturnal bull ant Myrmecia pyriformis. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2014; 43:543-558. [PMID: 25102426 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2013] [Revised: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Insects use antennal sensilla to not only detect chemical and mechanical cues but also to sense changes in temperature, humidity and CO(2) levels. Very little is known about the variation in numbers, size and structure of sensilla in ants. Here we describe in detail the array of sensilla on the apical segment of the antennae of the nocturnal Australian bull ant Myrmecia pyriformis. Using scanning electron microscopy techniques we identified eight types of sensilla: trichodea curvata, basiconica, trichodea, coelocapitular, chaetica, trichoid II, ampullacea and coeloconica. Mapping the spatial location of each sensillum revealed distinct distribution patterns for different types of sensilla which were consistent across different individuals. We found, in most cases, the number of sensilla increases with the size of the apical antennomere, which in turn increases with body size. Conversely, the size of sensilla did not appreciably increase with the size of the apical antennomere. We discuss the size, numbers and distribution of sensilla of M. pyriformis compared to other ant species. Lastly, given the inconsistent use of sensillum nomenclature and difficulties associated in reliable identification we have attempted to consolidate the ant sensilla literature to make possible interspecific comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Ramirez-Esquivel
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
| | - Jochen Zeil
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Ajay Narendra
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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45
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Spotti F, Castracani C, Grasso D, Mori A. Daily activity patterns and food preferences in an alpine ant community. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2014.947634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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46
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Loreto RG, Hart AG, Pereira TM, Freitas MLR, Hughes DP, Elliot SL. Foraging ants trade off further for faster: use of natural bridges and trunk trail permanency in carpenter ants. Naturwissenschaften 2014; 100:957-63. [PMID: 24022667 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-013-1096-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Trail-making ants lay pheromones on the substrate to define paths between foraging areas and the nest. Combined with the chemistry of these pheromone trails and the physics of evaporation, trail-laying and trail-following behaviours provide ant colonies with the quickest routes to food. In relatively uniform environments, such as that provided in many laboratory studies of trail-making ants, the quickest route is also often the shortest route. Here, we show that carpenter ants (Camponotus rufipes), in natural conditions, are able to make use of apparent obstacles in their environment to assist in finding the fastest routes to food. These ants make extensive use of fallen branches, twigs and lianas as bridges to build their trails. These bridges make trails significantly longer than their straight line equivalents across the forest floor, but we estimate that ants spend less than half the time to reach the same point, due to increased carriage speed across the bridges. We also found that these trails, mainly composed of bridges, are maintained for months, so they can be characterized as trunk trails. We suggest that pheromone-based foraging trail networks in field conditions are likely to be structured by a range of potentially complex factors but that even then, speed remains the most important consideration.
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47
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Andrew NR, Hart RA, Jung MP, Hemmings Z, Terblanche JS. Can temperate insects take the heat? A case study of the physiological and behavioural responses in a common ant, Iridomyrmex purpureus (Formicidae), with potential climate change. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:870-880. [PMID: 23806604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Insects in temperate regions are predicted to be at low risk of climate change relative to tropical species. However, these assumptions have generally been poorly examined in all regions, and such forecasting fails to account for microclimatic variation and behavioural optimisation. Here, we test how a population of the dominant ant species, Iridomyrmex purpureus, from temperate Australia responds to thermal stress. We show that ants regularly forage for short periods (minutes) at soil temperatures well above their upper thermal limits (upper lethal temperature = 45.8 ± 1.3°C; CT(max) = 46.1°C) determined over slightly longer periods (hours) and do not show any signs of a classic thermal performance curve in voluntary locomotion across soil surface temperatures of 18.6-57°C (equating to a body temperature of 24.5-43.1°C). Although ants were present all year round, and dynamically altered several aspects of their thermal biology to cope with low temperatures and seasonal variation, temperature-dependence of running speed remained invariant and ants were unable to elevate high temperature tolerance using plastic responses. Measurements of microclimate temperature were higher than ant body temperatures during the hottest part of the day, but exhibited a stronger relationship with each other than air temperatures from the closest weather station. Generally close associations of ant activity and performance with microclimatic conditions, possibly to maximise foraging times, suggest I. purpureus displays highly opportunistic thermal responses and readily adjusts behaviour to cope with high trail temperatures. Increasing frequency or duration of high temperatures is therefore likely to result in an immediate reduction in foraging efficiency. In summary, these results suggest that (1) soil-dwelling temperate insect populations may be at higher risks of thermal stress with increased frequency or duration of high temperatures resulting from climate change than previously thought, however, behavioural cues may be able to compensate to some extent; and (2) indices of climate change-related thermal stress, warming tolerance and thermal safety margin, are strongly influenced by the scale of climate metrics employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel R Andrew
- Centre for Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
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Narendra A, Gourmaud S, Zeil J. Mapping the navigational knowledge of individually foraging ants, Myrmecia croslandi. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130683. [PMID: 23804615 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ants are efficient navigators, guided by path integration and visual landmarks. Path integration is the primary strategy in landmark-poor habitats, but landmarks are readily used when available. The landmark panorama provides reliable information about heading direction, routes and specific location. Visual memories for guidance are often acquired along routes or near to significant places. Over what area can such locally acquired memories provide information for reaching a place? This question is unusually approachable in the solitary foraging Australian jack jumper ant, since individual foragers typically travel to one or two nest-specific foraging trees. We find that within 10 m from the nest, ants both with and without home vector information available from path integration return directly to the nest from all compass directions, after briefly scanning the panorama. By reconstructing panoramic views within the successful homing range, we show that in the open woodland habitat of these ants, snapshot memories acquired close to the nest provide sufficient navigational information to determine nest-directed heading direction over a surprisingly large area, including areas that animals may have not visited previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Narendra
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia.
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Schultheiss P, Nooten SS. Foraging patterns and strategies in an Australian desert ant. AUSTRAL ECOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Schultheiss
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Sabine S. Nooten
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
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Narendra A, Reid SF, Raderschall CA. Navigational efficiency of nocturnal Myrmecia ants suffers at low light levels. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58801. [PMID: 23484052 PMCID: PMC3590162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects face the challenge of navigating to specific goals in both bright sun-lit and dim-lit environments. Both diurnal and nocturnal insects use quite similar navigation strategies. This is despite the signal-to-noise ratio of the navigational cues being poor at low light conditions. To better understand the evolution of nocturnal life, we investigated the navigational efficiency of a nocturnal ant, Myrmecia pyriformis, at different light levels. Workers of M. pyriformis leave the nest individually in a narrow light-window in the evening twilight to forage on nest-specific Eucalyptus trees. The majority of foragers return to the nest in the morning twilight, while few attempt to return to the nest throughout the night. We found that as light levels dropped, ants paused for longer, walked more slowly, the success in finding the nest reduced and their paths became less straight. We found that in both bright and dark conditions ants relied predominantly on visual landmark information for navigation and that landmark guidance became less reliable at low light conditions. It is perhaps due to the poor navigational efficiency at low light levels that the majority of foragers restrict navigational tasks to the twilight periods, where sufficient navigational information is still available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Narendra
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
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