Worker Size Diversity Has No Effect on Overwintering Success under Natural Conditions in the Ant Temnothorax nylanderi.

ABSTRACT: Winter is a difficult period for animals that live in temperate zones. It can inflict high mortality or induce weight loss with potential consequences on performance during the growing season. Social groups include individuals of various ages and sizes. This diversity may improve the ability of groups to buffer winter disturbances such as starvation or cold temperature. Studies focusing on the buffering role of social traits such as mean size and diversity of group members under winter conditions are mainly performed in the laboratory and investigate the effect of starvation or cold separately. Here, we experimentally decreased worker size diversity and manipulated worker mean size within colonies in order to study the effect on overwintering survival in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi. Colo

SUBMITTER: Honorio R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8143561 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature