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- Title
Nutrition and interference competition interactive effects on the behavior and performance of Argentine ants.
- Authors
Kay, Adam D.; Zumbush, Taylor; Heinen, Justa L.; Marsch, Tom C.; Holway, David A.
- Abstract
Food availability often influences competitive outcomes through effects on consumer growth. Although it has received less attention, food availability may also affect competition through nutritional effects on behavior. One hypothesis linking nutrition and competition in ants posits that increased access to carbohydrates favors greater investment in worker traits that underlie behavioral dominance. We tested this hypothesis by varying dietary protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratios and levels of interspecific interference for Argentine ants (Linepithema humile), a widespread invasive species. As predicted, colonies facing interference increased patrolling more when reared on low P:C diets; this result is the first demonstration of an interactive effect of nutrition and interference on ant colonies. Several results suggest that this dietary effect on patrolling was due primarily to changes in colony size rather than worker behavior. Colonies on lower P:C diets had lower worker mortality and larger final colony sizes. Diet had little effect on per capita patrolling, and worker behavior in performance assays depended more on previous exposure to interference than on diet. Our findings indicate that dietary P:C rations can influence Argentine ant performance in a competitive environment and suggest a mechanism by which monopolization of carboyhydrate-rich sources can help invasive ants display native ant competitors.
- Subjects
ARGENTINE ant; LINEPITHEMA; ANIMAL nutrition; HABITAT partitioning (Ecology); DEFENSE reaction (Physiology); FORAGING behavior; INTRODUCED species; ANT behavior; ANIMAL behavior
- Publication
Ecology, 2010, Vol 91, Issue 1, p57
- ISSN
0012-9658
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1890/09-0908.1