Spatiotemporal resource distribution and foraging strategies of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

ABSTRACT: The distribution of food resources in space and time is likely to be an important factor governing the type of foraging strategy used by ants. However, no previous systematic attempt has been made to determine whether spatiotemporal resource distribution is in fact correlated with foraging strategy across the ants. In this analysis, I present data compiled from the literature on the foraging strategy and food resource use of 402 species of ants from across the phylogenetic tree. By categorizing the distribution of resources reported in these studies in terms of size relative to colony size, spatial distribution relative to colony foraging range, frequency of occurrence in time relative to worker life span, and depletability (i.e., whether the colony can cause a change in resource frequency

SUBMITTER: Lanan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4267257 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature