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J Chem Ecol

Title:		Substrate temperature constrains recruitment and trail following behavior in ants
Author(s):		van Oudenhove L; Boulay R; Lenoir A; Bernstein C; Cerda X;
Address:		"Universite de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France. louise@thomasvo.net"
Journal Title:		J Chem Ecol
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120510
Issue:		6
Page Number:		802 - 809
DOI:		10.1007/s10886-012-0130-x
ISSN/ISBN:		1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In many ant species, foragers use pheromones to communicate the location of resources to nestmates. Mass-recruiting species deposit long-lasting anonymous chemical trails, while group-recruiting species use temporary chemical trails. We studied how high temperature influenced the foraging behavior of a mass-recruiting species (Tapinoma nigerrimum) and a group-recruiting species (Aphaenogaster senilis) through pheromone decay. First, under controlled laboratory conditions, we examined the effect of temperature on the trail pheromone of both species. A substrate, simulating soil, marked with gaster extract was heated for 10 min. at 25 degrees , 35 degrees , 45 degrees , or 55 degrees C and offered to workers in a choice test. Heating gaster extract reduced the trail following behavior of the mass-recruiters significantly more than that of the group-recruiters. Second, analyses of the chemicals present on the substrate indicated that most T. nigerrimum gaster secretions vanished at 25 degrees C, and only iridodials persisted up to 55 degrees C. By contrast, A. senilis secretions were less volatile and resisted better to elevated temperatures to some extent. However, at 55 degrees C, the only chemicals that persisted were nonadecene and nonadecane. Overall, our results suggest that the foraging behavior of the group-recruiting species A. senilis is less affected by pheromone evaporation than that of the mass-recruiting species T. nigerrimum. This group-recruiting species might, thus, be particularly adapted to environments with fluctuating temperatures"
Keywords:		Animals Ants/*physiology *Feeding Behavior Hot Temperature Pheromones/*metabolism;
Notes:		"Medlinevan Oudenhove, Louise Boulay, Raphael Lenoir, Alain Bernstein, Carlos Cerda, Xim eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/05/11 J Chem Ecol. 2012 Jun; 38(6):802-9. doi: 10.1007/s10886-012-0130-x. Epub 2012 May 10"