Artículo
Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
Fecha de publicación:
22/04/2021
Editorial:
Nature Publishing Group
Revista:
Scientific Reports
ISSN:
2045-2322
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
Foraging rhythms in eusocial insects are determined by the colony´s overall pattern. However, in leaf-cutting ant workers, individual rhythms are not fully synchronized with the colonies’ rhythm. The colony as a whole is nocturnal, since most worker activity takes place at night; however some workers forage during the day. Previous studies in individualized ants suggest nocturnal and diurnal workers coexistence. Here observations within the colony, in leaf-cutting ants, showed that workers have differential foraging time preference, which interestingly is associated to body size and differential leaf transportation engagement. Nocturnal ants are smaller and less engaged in leaf transportation whereas diurnal ants are bigger and more engaged in leaf carriage. Mechanisms underlying division of labor in work shifts in ants are still unknown but much can be extrapolated from honeybees; another social system bearing a similar pattern. A collective organization like this favors constant exploitation of food sources while preserving natural individual rhythm patterns, which arise from individual differences, and thermal tolerance, given by the size polymorphism presented by this species.
Palabras clave:
EUSOCIAL
,
SOCIAL RHYTHMS
,
INDIVIDUAL RHYTHMS
,
FORAGING BEHAVIOR
Archivos asociados
Licencia
Identificadores
Colecciones
Articulos(CRILAR)
Articulos de CENTRO REGIONAL DE INV. CIENTIFICAS Y TRANSFERENCIA TECNOLOGICA DE ANILLACO
Articulos de CENTRO REGIONAL DE INV. CIENTIFICAS Y TRANSFERENCIA TECNOLOGICA DE ANILLACO
Citación
Constantino, Pedro B.; Valentinuzzi, Verónica Sandra; Helene, André F.; Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants; Nature Publishing Group; Scientific Reports; 11; 1; 22-4-2021; 1-9
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