Odor-Mediated Group Organization and Coordination in the Termite-Raiding Ant Megaponera analis (Mayr)

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 635-644
Author(s):  
Abdullahi A Yusuf ◽  
Erik T Frank ◽  
Ayuka T Fombong ◽  
Christian W W Pirk ◽  
Robin M Crewe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Recognition ◽  
Cuticular Hydrocarbon ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Sound Communication ◽  
Odor Compounds ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Conspecific Odors ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Group Hunting

Abstract Visual and olfactory communications are vital for coordinated group hunting in most animals. To hunt for prey, the group-raiding termite specialist ant Megaponera analis, which lacks good vision, must first confirm the presence or absence of conspecific raiders. Here, we show that M. analis uses olfactory cues for intraspecific communication and showed greater preference for conspecific odors over clean air (blank) or odors from its termite prey. Chemical analysis of ant volatiles identified predominantly short-chained hydrocarbons. Electrophysiological analysis revealed differential sensory detection of the odor compounds, which were confirmed in behavioral olfactometric choice assays with odor bouquets collected from major and minor castes and the 2 most dominant volatiles and n-undecane n-tridecane. A comparative analysis of the cuticular hydrocarbon profile with those of the short-chained odor bouquet of different populations shows a high divergence in the long-chained profile and a much-conserved short-chained odor bouquet. This suggests that there is less selection pressure for divergence and individual recognition in the short- than the long-chained odor profiles. We conclude that olfactory communication serves as an alternative to visual or sound communication, especially during group raids in M. analis when ants are not in direct contact with one another.

scholarly journals A Review and Interspecific Comparison of Nocturnal and Cathemeral Strepsirhine Primate Olfactory Behavioural Ecology

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C. Colquhoun
Keyword(s):  
Social Dominance ◽  
Individual Recognition ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Comparative Data ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Interspecific Comparison ◽  
Sex Recognition ◽  
Comparative Review

This paper provides a comparative review of the known patterns of olfactory behavioural ecology among the nocturnal strepsirhine primates and the cathemeral lemurid genusEulemur. Endemic to Madagascar, allEulemurspecies exhibit both diurnality and nocturnality (i.e., cathemerality), and are gregarious, making them an interesting group of taxa to compare with the nocturnal strepsirhines. This paper represents the first comparative review of patterns of olfactory communication among the nocturnal strepsirhines and the cathemeralEulemurspecies. Inductive assessment of these comparative data indicates that olfactory communication serves multiple functions in both groups, including individual recognition, sex recognition, indication of social dominance, and coordination of mating behaviour. However, the urine-washing behaviour characteristic of many nocturnal strepsirhines has no clear homologue amongEulemurspecies (although the latter may use urine droplets in scent marking). Despite sparse and scattered comparative data, it appears thatEulemurspecies exhibit different olfactory communication patterns that are associated with differing social organizations in this genus.

scholarly journals A social insect fertility signal is dependent on chemical context

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 20140947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian A. Smith ◽  
Jocelyn G. Millar ◽  
Andrew V. Suarez
Keyword(s):  
Cuticular Hydrocarbon ◽  
Fertility Signal ◽  
Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profile ◽  
Fertility Signals ◽  
Similar Chemical ◽  
Chemical Background ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Odontomachus Brunneus ◽  
Effect Experiment

Identifying group members and individuals' status within a group are fundamental tasks in animal societies. For ants, this information is coded in the cuticular hydrocarbon profile. We manipulated profiles of the ant Odontomachus brunneus to examine whether the releaser and primer effects of fertility signals are dependent on chemical context. Fertility status is signalled through increased abundance of ( Z )-9-nonacosene ( Z 9 : C 29 ). Across the ant's distribution, populations have distinct hydrocarbon profiles but the fertility signal is conserved. Foreign queens and fertility-signal-treated workers from the same population, sharing a similar chemical background, elicited releaser effects from workers, whereas queens and fertility-signal-treated workers from different populations did not. Z 9 : C 29 presented without chemical background did not elicit releaser effects. A primer-effect experiment found that Z 9 : C 29 , presented without a chemical background, did not inhibit worker reproduction. Our results demonstrate that a familiar chemical background is necessary for appropriate responses to fertility signals.

Surface brightening in eastern and central China since the implementation of the Clean Air Action in 2013: causes and implications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongrong Shi ◽  
Jinqiang Zhang ◽  
Bin Zhao ◽  
Xiangao Xia ◽  
Bo Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central China ◽  
Clean Air

Gene Polymorphisms and Their Association to Coronavirus Family Infections: Susceptibility in Different Populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
African Region ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Asian Populations ◽  
Spread Pattern ◽  
Different Populations

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci are highly polymorphic and determine differential features of the immune response in subjects from different regions. HLA genes have been proposed to determine genetic susceptibility to several diseases, particularly to viral infections. Moreover, it has been suggested that each ethnic group could have a different specificity of T-lymphocyte reactivity to the same viral infections. In this review, we analyzed the distribution of HLA types in countries of the Asian, European and North African region. Also, we studied the relation between these HLA polymorphisms and susceptibility to infection by the coronavirus. Our findings indicated that homozygosity would increase susceptibility to viral infections and, in some cases, to coronavirus infection. HLA types showing higher susceptibility were reported in Asian population, including China, Singapore, and Taiwan. In contrast, lower susceptibility HLA variants were detected among African populations, some Asian populations, and Mediterranean populations. The presented evidence along with the spread pattern of COVID-19 infection suggests that HLA genetic variants might be related to its infection susceptibility and severity. The investigation of HLA genetic variants distribution would be a useful tool to predict different populations’ susceptibility to viral infections.

Some comparative aspects of a longitudinal growth study in normal spanish children and other longitudinal studies

1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (4_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S93-S97 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. FERRANDEZ ◽  
E. MAYAYO ◽  
M. RODRIGUEZ ◽  
J.M. ARNAL ◽  
J. CARO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Growth ◽  
Growth Study ◽  
Growth Studies ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Catch Up

Abstract The differences existing among some european longitudinal growth studies make it necessary to be cautious in the use of standards constructed on different populations. The improvement of the environmental conditions during the last 20 years is probably the most important cause of the "catch-up" phenomenon of the spanish stature. It is probable that racial characteristics also play a role, even in the same country as can be appreciated on comparing two spanish longitudinal studies based on children originary from different regions. All of wich indicates the need to use own standards in those countries wich, like ours, have lived through a period of intenses changes. Even exploratory studies of regional differences in the same country seem necesary.

Identification of sibling species in the genus Eucyclops from water-bodies of Ukraine and Russia using crossbreeding studies

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. I. Monchenko ◽  
L. P. Gaponova ◽  
V. R. Alekseev
Keyword(s):  
Cryptic Species ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Basin Water ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Baltic Sea Basin

Crossbreeding experiments were used to estimate cryptic species in water bodies of Ukraine and Russia because the most useful criterion in species independence is reproductive isolation. The problem of cryptic species in the genus Eucyclops was examined using interpopulation crosses of populations collected from Baltic Sea basin (pond of Strelka river basin) and Black Sea basin (water-reservoires of Dnieper, Dniester and Danube rivers basins). The results of reciprocal crosses in Eucyclops serrulatus-group are shown that E. serrulatus from different populations but from water bodies belonging to the same river basin crossed each others successfully. The interpopulation crosses of E. serrulatus populations collected from different river basins (Dnipro, Danube and Dniester river basins) were sterile. In this group of experiments we assigned evidence of sterility to four categories: 1) incomplete copulation or absence of copulation; 2) nonviable eggs; 3) absence of egg membranes or egg sacs 4) empty egg membranes. These crossbreeding studies suggest the presence of cryptic species in the E. serrulatus inhabiting ecologically different populations in many parts of its range. The same crossbreeding experiments were carries out between Eucyclops serrulatus and morphological similar species – Eucyclops macruroides from Baltic and Black Sea basins. The reciprocal crossings between these two species were sterile. Thus taxonomic heterogeneity among species of genus Eucyclops lower in E. macruroides than in E. serrulatus. The interpopulation crosses of E. macruroides populations collected from distant part of range were fertile. These crossbreeding studies suggest that E. macruroides species complex was evaluated as more stable than E. serrulatus species complex.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document