Food influence on colonial recognition and chemical signature
between nestmates in the fungus-growing ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acromyrmex subterraneus
subterraneus</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Freddie-Jeanne?RichardEmail author Abraham?Hefetz Jean-Philippe?Christides Christine?Errard |
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Institution: | (1) Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de lInsecte CNRS UMR 6035, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Parc de Grandmont, 37200 Tours, France;(2) Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Ramat Aviv, Israel |
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Abstract: | Summary. Neotropical Fungus-growing leaf-cutting ants (tribe Attini) live in
obligatory symbiosis with a fungus, which they grow on fresh leaves harvested by
workers. Colonial recognition is likely based on chemical cues provided by cuticular
hydrocarbons that have been found to be partly influenced by environmental odor
sources. The diet breadth of Acromyrmex
subterraneus subterraneus enabled us to test
the impact of different plant diets on colonial recognition. The intermediary of the
fungus in the ants feeding habit adds a special angle to the question.
From a queenright (QR) mother colony of A. s. subterraneus
we formed several groups of queenless (QL) workers with fungus (approx. 700 ants). The QR
colony and two of the QL-groups were fed with the same diet of fresh bramble leaves. Two other
QL-groups were fed with privet leaves and two with rose flowers. After 4 months, QR workers were
significantly more aggressive towards the QL-group fed with rose flowers or privet
leaves than towards workers of the QL-groups fed with fresh bramble leaves. Rose-fed
QL workers were aggressive towards privet-fed QL workers and vice versa, but never towards
workers of their counterpart group that fed on the same diet. These results suggest
that the absence of the queen or the separation time between groups played a minor
role in shaping nestmate recognition cues as compared to the diet. The behavioral
studies were supplemented by chemical analyses of cuticles, postpharyngeal glands
(PPG) and plant-food extracts revealing profiles variations that were correlated
with the dietary changes. However, although the plant extract contained several
hydrocarbons there was no congruency between the plant profile and the respective
diet-group ants. These results support the hypothesis that the diet influences
indirectly the chemical profiles and consequently the recognition cues in
A. s. subterraneus. |
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Keywords: | Acromyrmex subterraneus leaf cutting ants nestmate recognition hydrocarbons plant-diet |
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