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Naturwissenschaften

Title:		Rapid modification in the olfactory signal of ants following a change in reproductive status
Author(s):		Cuvillier-Hot V; Renault V; Peeters C;
Address:		"Laboratoire d'Ecologie, CNRS UMR 7625, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 quai St Bernard, 75005 Paris, France. virginie.cuvillier@univ-lille1.fr"
Journal Title:		Naturwissenschaften
Year:		2005
Volume:		20041217
Issue:		2
Page Number:		73 - 77
DOI:		10.1007/s00114-004-0588-7
ISSN/ISBN:		0028-1042 (Print) 0028-1042 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In insect societies, the presence and condition of egg-layers can be assessed with pheromones. Exocrine secretions are expected to vary in time in order to give up-to-date information on an individual's reproductive physiology. In the queenless monogynous ant Streblognathus peetersi, we allowed a previously infertile high-ranking worker to accede to the alpha rank, thus triggering the onset of her oogenesis (15 replicates). We then studied her interactions with an established egg-layer from the same colony after different durations, ranging from 20 h to several days. Even though her eggs are only ready to be laid after 30 days, the new alpha was recognised within 1-2 days. Detection occurred at a distance of a few millimetres, suggesting the involvement of a pheromone with low volatility, such as cuticular hydrocarbons. When the new alpha had differentiated for >48 h, she was attacked by the established egg-layer. In all cases, low-ranking workers eventually immobilised one of the two alphas: the new alpha was the target if she had differentiated only recently, suggesting that police workers select the dominant worker with the 'less fertile' odour. Using the behaviour of ants as our measure, we demonstrate that a dominant's olfactory signal changes rapidly with a modification in her social status, and it occurs well before the onset of egg-laying"
Keywords:		"Animals Ants/*physiology Female Male Motor Activity Reproduction/*physiology *Sexual Behavior, Animal Smell/*physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineCuvillier-Hot, Virginie Renault, Valerie Peeters, Christian eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2005/02/09 Naturwissenschaften. 2005 Feb; 92(2):73-7. doi: 10.1007/s00114-004-0588-7. Epub 2004 Dec 17"