Colony specificity and starvation-driven changes in activity patterns of the red ant Myrmica rubra.

ABSTRACT: Although the activity levels of insect societies are assumed to contribute to their ergonomic efficiency, most studies of the temporal organization of ant colony activity have focused on only a few species. Little is known about the variation in activity patterns across colonies and species, and in different environmental contexts. In this study, the activity patterns of colonies of the red ant Myrmica rubra were characterized over 15 consecutive days. The main goals were to evaluate the colony specificity of the activity patterns and the impact of food deprivation on these patterns. We found that the average activity level varied across colonies and remained consistent over 1 week, providing evidence that the activity level is a colony-specific life trait. Furthermore, all colonies applie

SUBMITTER: Vaes O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9374231 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature