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J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol

Title:		"Role of the pheromone for navigation in the group foraging ant, Veromessor pergandei"
Author(s):		Freas CA; Spetch ML;
Address:		"Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada. freascody@gmail.com. Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada"
Journal Title:		J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol
Year:		2021
Volume:		20210307
Issue:		3
Page Number:		353 - 367
DOI:		10.1007/s00359-021-01471-9
ISSN/ISBN:		1432-1351 (Electronic) 0340-7594 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Navigation is comprised of a variety of strategies which rely on multiple external cues to shape a navigator's behavioral output. Here, we explored in the ant Veromessor pergandei, the interactions between the information provided by the pheromone trail and the home vector guided by the celestial compass. We found that a cross sensory interaction between the pheromone cue and the path integrator underlies correct orientation during the inbound journey. The celestial compass provides directional information, while the presence of the trail pheromone acts as a critical context cue, triggering distinct behaviors (vector orientation, search, and backtracking). While exposed to the pheromone, foragers orient to the vector direction regardless of vector state, while in the pheromone's absence, the current remaining vector determines the forager's navigational behavior. This interaction also occurs in foragers with no remaining path integrator, relying on the activation of a celestial compass-based memory of the previous trip. Such cue interactions maximize the foragers' return to the nest and inhibit movement off the pheromone trail. Finally, our manipulations continuously rotated foragers away from their desired heading, yet foragers were proficient at counteracting these changes, steering to maintain a correct compass heading even at rotational speeds of ~ 40 degrees /s"
Keywords:		"Animals Ants/*metabolism *Cues *Homing Behavior *Locomotion Memory *Orientation, Spatial Pheromones/*metabolism Sensory Thresholds *Spatial Navigation Celestial compass Context cues Cue integration Multisensory Path integration;"
Notes:		"MedlineFreas, Cody A Spetch, Marcia L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2021/03/08 J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2021 May; 207(3):353-367. doi: 10.1007/s00359-021-01471-9. Epub 2021 Mar 7"