Sources of intraspecific variation in the collective tempo and synchrony of ant societies.

ABSTRACT: Populations of independently oscillating agents can sometimes synchronize. In the context of animal societies, conspicuous synchronization of activity is known in some social insects. However, the causes of variation in synchrony within and between species have received little attention. We repeatedly assessed the short-term activity cycle of ant colonies (Temnothorax rugatulus) and monitored the movements of individual workers and queens within nests. We detected persistent differences between colonies in the waveform properties of their collective activity oscillations, with some colonies consistently oscillating much more erratically than others. We further demonstrate that colony crowding reduces the rhythmicity (i.e., the consistent timing) of oscillations. Workers in both erra

SUBMITTER: Doering GN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6838655 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature