Homing Behaviour in Polyergus rufescens Latr. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

The ability of animals to disperse towards their original home range following displacement has been demonstrated in a number of species. However, little is known about the homing ability of three-spine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), an important model species in behavioural ecology. In addition, few studies have examined the role of social facilitation in relation to homing behaviour in fishes. We examined homing behaviour of sticklebacks displaced over distances of between 80 m and 160 m in land-drains with directional water flow. Fish were translocated from their original capture site, tagged and then released either in groups or solitarily. We performed recapture transects either one or two days later. Data provided by recaptured sticklebacks show that the fish dispersed in the direction of their original capture site. Although fish translocated downstream typically moved further than those translocated upstream, both dispersed towards their original capture site. There was no difference between fish released solitarily or in groups in their homing ability and indeed there was little evidence that fish translocated in groups remained together following their release. The homing ability of the fish was demonstrated by the finding that up to 80% of fish returned to their home ranges within two days of release over a distance equivalent to approximately 5000 body lengths of these small fish.

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Homing behaviour of stream-dwelling brook charr following experimental displacement

Journal of Fish Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00166.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 987-1001 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

G. Belangerz ◽

M. A. Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Brook Charr ◽

Homing Behaviour

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Homing behaviour of pigeons subjected to unilateral zinc sulphate treatment of their olfactory mucosa

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.199.11.2531 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 199 (11) ◽

pp. 2531-2535 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

S Benvenuti ◽

A Gagliardo

Keyword(s):

Brain Damage ◽

Zinc Sulphate ◽

Experimental Treatment ◽

Olfactory Mucosa ◽

Initial Orientation ◽

Sulphate Solution ◽

Control Groups ◽

Homing Behaviour ◽

Homing Performance ◽

Zinc Sulphate Solution

Pigeons were made anosmic by unilateral treatment of their olfactory mucosa with a zinc sulphate solution and by plugging the contralateral nostril. In a series of releases at unfamiliar sites, 5579 km from the home loft, the experimental birds' homing behaviour was compared with that of two control groups: unmanipulated control birds, and birds subjected to unilateral zinc sulphate treatment and equipped with an ipsilateral nasal plug. The experimental pigeons exhibited homing behaviour  in terms of both homeward initial orientation and homing performance  significantly poorer than that of both unmanipulated and treated control pigeons. In addition, the homing behaviour of the treated controls turned out to be only slightly, and not significantly, poorer than that of the unmanipulated birds. The results show that the impaired homing capabilities of the zinc-sulphate-treated birds are due to the lack of navigational information and not to non-specific brain damage caused by the experimental treatment.

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Cuticular spectra and inter-individual recognition in the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens and the slave species Formica rufibarbis

Physiological Entomology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-3032.1993.tb00464.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 167-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

C. HABERSETZER

Keyword(s):

Individual Recognition ◽

Polyergus Rufescens

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Site fidelity, home range and homing behaviour in some species of birds captured at the Ornithological Station of Mbour (Senegal)

Tropical Zoology ◽

10.1080/03946975.1990.10539448 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 57-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

F. Baillon ◽

S. Benvenuti

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Site Fidelity ◽

Homing Behaviour

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High Tide Movements and Homing Behaviour of the Tidepool Sculpin Oligocottus maculosus

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f71-051 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 383-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

John M. Green

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Intertidal Zone ◽

High Tide ◽

Homing Behavior ◽

Homing Behaviour ◽

Oligocottus Maculosus

Tagging studies show that the tidepool sculpin Oligocottus maculosus Girard shows fidelity to specific tide pools and will return to their pools when displaced. The results indicate that the navigational ability of O. maculosus is not solely dependent upon familiarity with geographical features of the intertidal zone. It is suggested that homing behavior functions as a mechanism stabilizing the spatial distribution of this species.

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