Spine and dine: A key defensive trait promotes ecological success in spiny ants.

ABSTRACT: A key focus of ecologists is explaining the origin and maintenance of morphological diversity and its association with ecological success. We investigate potential benefits and costs of a common and varied morphological trait, cuticular spines, for foraging behavior, interspecific competition, and predator-prey interactions in naturally co-occurring spiny ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Polyrhachis) in an experimental setting. We expect that a defensive trait like spines might be associated with more conspicuous foraging, a greater number of workers sent out to forage, and potentially increased competitive ability. Alternatively, consistent with the ecological trade-off hypothesis, we expect that investment in spines for antipredator defense might be negatively correlated with these

SUBMITTER: Blanchard BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7319116 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature