Ants regulate colony spatial organization using multiple chemical road-signs.

ABSTRACT: Communication provides the basis for social life. In ant colonies, the prevalence of local, often chemically mediated, interactions introduces strong links between communication networks and the spatial distribution of ants. It is, however, unknown how ants identify and maintain nest chambers with distinct functions. Here, we combine individual tracking, chemical analysis and machine learning to decipher the chemical signatures present on multiple nest surfaces. We present evidence for several distinct chemical 'road-signs' that guide the ants' movements within the dark nest. These chemical signatures can be used to classify nest chambers with different functional roles. Using behavioural manipulations, we demonstrate that at least three of these chemical signatures are functionally meanin

SUBMITTER: Heyman Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5461491 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature