Harvester ant nest architecture is more strongly affected by intrinsic than extrinsic factors.

ABSTRACT: Behavior is shaped by genes, environment, and evolutionary history in different ways. Nest architecture is an extended phenotype that results from the interaction between the behavior of animals and their environment. Nests built by ants are extended phenotypes that differ in structure among species and among colonies within a species, but the source of these differences remains an open question. To investigate the impact of colony identity (genetics), evolutionary history (species), and the environment on nest architecture, we compared how two species of harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex californicus and Veromessor andrei, construct their nests under different environmental conditions. For each species, we allowed workers from four colonies to excavate nests in environments that

SUBMITTER: O'Fallon S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9113307 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature