scholarly journals Peer Review #2 of "Experimental modulation of external microbiome affects nestmate recognition in harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) (v0.1)"

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Nestmate Recognition ◽  
Harvester Ants ◽  
Pogonomyrmex Barbatus

scholarly journals Experimental modulation of external microbiome affects nestmate recognition in harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Dosmann ◽  
Nassim Bahet ◽  
Deborah M. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Cuticular Hydrocarbons ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Topical Application ◽  
Nestmate Recognition ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Harvester Ants ◽  
Pogonomyrmex Barbatus ◽  
Microbial Cultures ◽  
Observed Behavior

Social insects use odors as cues for a variety of behavioral responses, including nestmate recognition. Past research on nestmate recognition indicates cuticular hydrocarbons are important nestmate discriminators for social insects, but other factors are likely to contribute to colony-specific odors. Here we experimentally tested whether external microbes contribute to nestmate recognition in red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus). We changed the external microbiome of ants through topical application of either antibiotics or microbial cultures. We then observed behavior of nestmates when treated ants were returned to the nest. Ants whose external microbiome was augmented with microbial cultures were much more likely to be rejected than controls, but ants treated with antibiotics were not. This result is consistent with the possibility that external microbes are used for nestmate recognition.

scholarly journals Remoción de Semillas en Hábitats Transformados: Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y Cinco Especies de Cactáceas del Centro de México

Sociobiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Leticia Ríos-Casanova ◽  
Héctor Godínez-Álvarez ◽  
Gabriala Martínez Morales
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Seed Removal ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Harvester Ants ◽  
Pogonomyrmex Barbatus ◽  
Intermediate Transformation ◽  
Crop Field ◽  
A Site ◽  
Harsh Conditions

One of the main consequences of human activities in semiarid zones is the transformation of habitats. In this work we studied the effect of this transformation on seed removal of five cacti species by the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán valley, a semiarid zone in central Mexico. Seed removal was quantified at three sites which have been under the effect of human activities: an abandoned crop field (CCA), a site with evidence of current human activities (TAH), and a site inside a botanic garden ( JB). We hypothesized that sites which have been under intense human activities would have low rates of seed removal because they offer harsh conditions for harvester ants, reducing their foraging activity. Results showed that vegetation and surface soil characteristics of the sites studied are affecting the rates of seed removal of the five cacti species studied. The lowest seed removal rate was found at CCA, the most transformed site. In contrast with our hypothesis the highest seed removal was found at TAH, the site which represents the intermediate transformation condition, because this site still conserves some characteristics which permit intense foraging activity by harvester ants. We also found that the seed removal rate varied among the different cacti species studied. Seed of E. chiotilla had the highest removal rate, whereas O. decumbens had the lowest. Differences in seed removal rate could be associated with the high heterogeneity found in sites with intermediate levels of transformation. Another factor that must be considered is the external morphology of seeds since smaller seeds presented highest removal rates.

scholarly journals A New Protocol Using Artificial Seeds to Evaluate Dietary Preferences of Harvester Ants in Semi-arid Environments

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Pedro Luna ◽  
Wesley Dáttilo
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behavior ◽  
Resource Selection ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Harvester Ants ◽  
Artificial Seeds ◽  
Selective Predation ◽  
Resource Quality ◽  
Pogonomyrmex Barbatus

The preferences of seed intake by harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) have been debated for a long time, mainly due the lack of repeatable methods to draw clear conclusions. However, several characteristics of the food resource are well recognized as the drivers of such selective predation. For instance, resource quality (i.e., availability of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins) is one factor that could explain the observed foraging patterns of Pogonomyrmex species. In this sense, experimental approaches using artificial resources (e.g., synthetic seeds/diaspores) have provided an useful and alternative tool to study ant’s food foraging behavior. Therefore, it is expected that the use of artificial seeds also could offer a versatile way to assess the influence of resource quality exert on the resource selection by harvester ants. On the other hand, empirical experiments involving harvester ants and artificial seeds are still rare in the literature and it is not known if such methodology is efficient with different Pogonomyrmex species. In this study carried out in a Neotropical arid environment of central Mexico, we tested a simple but fundamental question: Do harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) predate artificial seeds with manipulated nutrient content (lipids and proteins) in the field? We found that the proportion of native seeds removed was lower than the proportion of artificial seeds removed. However, we found no difference between the removal of artificial seeds containing only lipids and the seeds containing lipids + proteins. These findings indicate that the artificial seeds synthesized by us could be an effective method to test different ecological hypothesis involving harvester ants. Moreover, our empirical experiment offers a benchmark to study the influence of resource quality on the food foraging behavior of harvester ants in Neotropical arid environments.

An empirical review of gambling expansion and gambling-related harm

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 295-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debi A. LaPlante ◽  
Heather M. Gray ◽  
Pat M. Williams ◽  
Sarah E. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Expansion Method ◽  
Responsible Gambling ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Empirical Comparison ◽  
Related Harm

Abstract. Aims: To discuss and review the latest research related to gambling expansion. Method: We completed a literature review and empirical comparison of peer reviewed findings related to gambling expansion and subsequent gambling-related changes among the population. Results: Although gambling expansion is associated with changes in gambling and gambling-related problems, empirical studies suggest that these effects are mixed and the available literature is limited. For example, the peer review literature suggests that most post-expansion gambling outcomes (i. e., 22 of 34 possible expansion outcomes; 64.7 %) indicate no observable change or a decrease in gambling outcomes, and a minority (i. e., 12 of 34 possible expansion outcomes; 35.3 %) indicate an increase in gambling outcomes. Conclusions: Empirical data related to gambling expansion suggests that its effects are more complex than frequently considered; however, evidence-based intervention might help prepare jurisdictions to deal with potential consequences. Jurisdictions can develop and evaluate responsible gambling programs to try to mitigate the impacts of expanded gambling.

A retrospective analysis of peer review at Physiologia Plantarum

1994 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence M. Murphy ◽  
Jessica M. Utts
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Retrospective Analysis
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