A new ethological test to study nestmate recognition in adult ants |
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Authors: | R Fénéron |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (URA CNRS 667), Université Paris-Nord, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France |
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Abstract: | Summary An ethological test was designed to investigate nestmate recognition in adult ants. Contrary to classic dyadic tests, it consisted of a choice situation where a tested-worker was faced with nestmate and non-nestmate workers. These were kept alive, tied down, and thus immobilised in the neutral arena to record the tested-worker's reactions independently of the behaviour of the others. Such tests, applied to the ponerine ant,Ectatomma tuberculatum, enabled us to record various measures of discrimination and to limit aggressive behaviours between alien ants, which often leads to serious injury in dyadic tests. They also demonstrated the influence of age on discrimination behaviour in this species. |
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Keywords: | Nestmate discrimination behaviour Formicidae Ponerinae Ectatomma tuberculatum |
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