Group and Mass Recruitment in Ant Colonies: the Influence of Contact Rates

1998 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Bonabeau ◽  
Guy Theraulaz ◽  
Jean-Louis Deneubourg
Keyword(s):  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Contact Rates ◽  
Mass Recruitment

Worker size and seed size selection in ‘seed’-collecting ant ensembles (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in primary rain forests on Borneo

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 685-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Pfeiffer ◽  
Jamili Nais ◽  
K. Eduard Linsenmair
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Milled Rice ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Size Selection ◽  
Transport Distance ◽  
Seed Particles ◽  
Food Size ◽  
Mass Recruitment ◽  
Selection Of Species

‘Size matching’ of forager size and prey size is an ecological mechanism that should partition diets both within ant colonies and ensembles. We studied the relationship between ant body size and food size in tropical leaf-litter ant ensembles at different levels. In three plots of primary rain forest in Sabah, Malaysia, we observed altogether 50 species of 18 genera of ants (e.g. Pheidole, Recurvidris, Lophomyrmex, Paratrechina, Odontoponera) that harvested seed particles from baits of milled rice of various particle size. At colony level ‘size matching’ of individual foragers with their load was found only in one of 12 tested species, viz. Pheidole lucioccipitalis. However, ant species differed considerably with respect to ‘seed’ size used: on average, foragers of larger species transported significantly larger ‘seed’ fragments. This was highly significant in a subset of ant species with at least 12 records of size choice per species. But when we investigated resource partitioning within each of the three ant ensembles with a null model, analysis proved that there was a significant overlap in seed size selection of species at two of the sites, thus indicating that food size choice of foragers had little influence on niche patterns and community structure of ants. Ant species with workers that were not matched with their seed resources (viz. Oligomyrmex or Pheidologeton) engaged in cooperative ‘seed’ transport, mass recruitment to and in situ mastication of rice fragments. Mean ‘seed’ transport distance was 38.4 cm.

How Ant Colonies Gamble

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Hübner ◽  
Tomer J. Czaczkes
Keyword(s):  
Ant Colonies

Forecast of COVID-19 Trend Following Countrywide Movement Control Order in Malaysia: SEIR Model Approach (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidalina Mahmud ◽  
Poh Ying Lim ◽  
Hayati Kadir Shahar
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Seir Model ◽  
Infection Incidence ◽  
Contact Rates ◽  
Exposed Population ◽  
Control Order ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Model Approach

BACKGROUND On March 18, 2020, the Malaysian government implemented Movement Control Order (MCO) to limit the contact rates among the population and infected individuals. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to forecast the trend of the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia in terms of its magnitude and duration. METHODS Data for this analysis was obtained from publicly available databases, from March 17 until March 27, 2020. By applying the Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious and Removed (SEIR) mathematical model and several predetermined assumptions, two analyses were carried out: without and with MCO implementation. RESULTS Without MCO, it is forecasted that it would take 18 days to reach the peak of infection incidence. The incidence rate would plateau at day 80 and end by day 94, with 43% of the exposed population infected. With the implementation of the MCO, it is forecasted that new cases of infection would peak at day 25, plateau at day 90 and end by day 100. At its peak, the infection could affect up to about 40% of the exposed population. CONCLUSIONS It is forecasted that the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia will subside soon after the mid-year of 2020. Although the implementation of MCO can flatten the epidemiological curve, it also prolongs the duration of the epidemic. The MCO can result in several unfavorable consequences in economic and psychosocial aspects. A future work of an exit plan for the MCO should also be devised and implemented gradually. The exit plan raises several timely issues of re-infection resurgence after MCO are lifted.

scholarly journals Influence of the Number of Queens on Nest Establishment: Native and Invasive Ant Species

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 591
Author(s):  
Irene Castañeda ◽  
Elsa Bonnaud ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
Gloria Luque
Keyword(s):  
Species Differences ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Invasive Ant ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Worker Behavior ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Nest Maintenance ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Tapinoma Nigerrimum

As a critical stage in the life cycle of ant colonies, nest establishment depends on external and internal factors. This study investigates the effect of the number of queens on queen and worker behavior during nest establishment in invasive Argentine ants (Linepitema humile) and native Mediterranean Tapinoma nigerrimum. We set up experimental colonies with the same number of workers but with one or six queens. At different time points, we recorded the positions of queens and workers inside and outside the nest. Our results highlight the influence of the number of queens on the position of queens and workers with between-species differences. Queens of both species entered the nests more quickly when there were six queens. During nest establishment, more workers were inside nests with six queens for both species, with this effect being greater for T. nigerrimum. Once nests were established, fewer workers of both species were engaged in nest maintenance and feeding in nests with six queens; T. nigerrimum had fewer workers engaged in patrolling. These results suggest that the number of queens is a key factor driving queen and worker behavior during and after nest establishment with different species responses.

scholarly journals The specialized thoracic skeletomuscular system of the myrmecophile Claviger testaceus (Pselaphinae, Staphylinidae, Coleoptera)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Zhu Luo ◽  
Paweł Jałoszyński ◽  
Alexander Stoessel ◽  
Rolf Georg Beutel
Keyword(s):  
General Trend ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Internal Structures ◽  
Flight Muscles ◽  
Compact Body ◽  
Visualization Techniques ◽  
High Degree

AbstractExternal and internal structures of the thorax of the myrmecophile beetle Claviger testaceus (Clavigeritae, Pselaphinae) were examined and documented with state-of-the-art visualization techniques. Following a general trend in the omaliine lineage (Staphylinidae), the skeletal elements of the pro- and pterothorax in Claviger reach a maximum degree of compactness, with largely reduced inter- and intrasegmental sutures and skeletal elements linked with the flight apparatus. The musculature, especially metathoracic direct and indirect flight muscles, also shows a high degree of reduction. Two forms of wings were found among individuals of C. testaceus, both non-functional and representing an advanced stage of reduction. However, that wing vestiges are still present and the metanotum, only slightly reduced, suggests that loss of flight in this species is likely the result of a young evolutionary process. Several structures are linked with myrmecophilous habits: small body size facilitates transportation of beetles by ant workers and makes it easier to move inside nest tunnels; the remarkably compact body and mechanically robust appendages make the beetles less vulnerable to attacks by ant mandibles; the improved elytral interlocking mechanism and unusually expanded epipleura enhance the protection of vulnerable dorsal parts of the pterothorax and anterior abdomen; and glands associated with trichomes on the posterolateral elytral angle produce secretions attractive for ants. Various modifications of the thorax and anterior abdomen lead to an optimization of intimate associations with ants. The morphological syndrome enabling these beetles to cope with life in ant colonies evolved in several steps. This is suggested by an increasing solidification of the thoracic skeleton in related non-myrmecophilous groups and also by less modified related clavigerites;for instance, ant-associated tropical species are still able to fly.

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