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Dong H, Huang X, Gao Q, Li S, Yang S, Chen F. Research Progress on the Species and Diversity of Ants and Their Three Tropisms. Insects 2023; 14:892. [PMID: 37999091 PMCID: PMC10672356 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Ants are one of the largest insect groups, with the most species and individuals in the world, and they have an important ecological function. Ants are not only an important part of the food chains but are also one of the main decomposers on the Earth; they can also improve soil fertility, etc. However, some species of ants are harmful to human beings, which leads to people's panic or worry about coming into contact with these insects during their daily home life or in their tourism or leisure activities. The presence of ants in indoor living facilities and in outdoor green spaces, parks, gardens, and tourist attractions seriously interferes with the leisure life and entertainment activities of all people (especially children). How can we control ants in these environments? Do we kill them by spraying insecticides, or do we adopt green prevention and control technology for the ecological management of ants? This topic is related to healthy life for the public and the protection of the ecological environment. In this paper, the species and diversity of ants are introduced, and research progress regarding ant tropism is introduced according to the three aspects of phototaxis, chromotaxis, and chemotaxis (i.e., "3-tropisms"). The research on repellent substances from plants and insects and the related ant attractants are also summarized, analyzed, and discussed, in order to help the research and application of green prevention and control technology for ant diversity protection and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hejie Dong
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (H.D.); (X.H.); (Q.G.); (S.Y.)
| | - Xinyi Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (H.D.); (X.H.); (Q.G.); (S.Y.)
| | - Qingqing Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (H.D.); (X.H.); (Q.G.); (S.Y.)
| | - Sihan Li
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Shanglin Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (H.D.); (X.H.); (Q.G.); (S.Y.)
| | - Fajun Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (H.D.); (X.H.); (Q.G.); (S.Y.)
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Abstract
The ability to see colour at night is known only from a handful of animals. First discovered in the elephant hawk moth Deilephila elpenor, nocturnal colour vision is now known from two other species of hawk moths, a single species of carpenter bee, a nocturnal gecko and two species of anurans. The reason for this rarity—particularly in vertebrates—is the immense challenge of achieving a sufficient visual signal-to-noise ratio to support colour discrimination in dim light. Although no less challenging for nocturnal insects, unique optical and neural adaptations permit reliable colour vision and colour constancy even in starlight. Using the well-studied Deilephila elpenor, we describe the visual light environment at night, the visual challenges that this environment imposes and the adaptations that have evolved to overcome them. We also explain the advantages of colour vision for nocturnal insects and its usefulness in discriminating night-opening flowers. Colour vision is probably widespread in nocturnal insects, particularly pollinators, where it is likely crucial for nocturnal pollination. This relatively poorly understood but vital ecosystem service is threatened from increasingly abundant and spectrally abnormal sources of anthropogenic light pollution, which can disrupt colour vision and thus the discrimination and pollination of flowers. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Warrant
- Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hema Somanathan
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
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3
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Abstract
Ball rolling dung beetles use a wide range of cues to steer themselves along a fixed bearing, including the spectral gradient of scattered skylight that spans the sky. Here, we define the spectral sensitivity of the diurnal dung beetle Kheper lamarcki and use the information to explore the orientation performance under a range of spectral light combinations. We find that, when presented with spectrally diverse stimuli, the beetles primarily orient to the apparent brightness differences as perceived by their green photoreceptors. Under certain wavelength combinations, they also rely on spectral information to guide their movements, but the brightness and spectral directional information is never fully disentangled. Overall, our results suggest the use of a dichromatic, primitive colour vision system for the extraction of directional information from the celestial spectral gradient to support straight-line orientation. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Yilmaz
- Department of Biology, Lund Vision Group, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Basil El Jundi
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gregor Belušič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marcus Byrne
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, South Africa
| | - Emily Baird
- Department of Zoology, Division of Functional Morphology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Dacke
- Department of Biology, Lund Vision Group, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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4
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Abstract
Ants are ecologically one of the most important groups of insects and exhibit impressive capabilities for visual learning and orientation. Studies on numerous ant species demonstrate that ants can learn to discriminate between different colours irrespective of light intensity and modify their behaviour accordingly. However, the findings across species are variable and inconsistent, suggesting that our understanding of colour vision in ants and what roles ecological and phylogenetic factors play is at an early stage. This review provides a brief synopsis of the critical findings of the past century of research by compiling studies that address molecular, physiological and behavioural aspects of ant colour vision. With this, we aim to improve our understanding of colour vision and to gain deeper insights into the mysterious and colourful world of ants. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Yilmaz
- Department of Biology, Lund Vision Group, University of Lund, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johannes Spaethe
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Sanderring 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
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Nagloo N, Mountford JK, Gundry BJ, Hart NS, Davies WIL, Collin SP, Hemmi JM. Enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity in the blue-tongued skink, Tiliqua rugosa. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275680. [PMID: 35582824 PMCID: PMC9234500 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite lizards using a wide range of color signals, the limited variation in photoreceptor spectral sensitivities across lizards suggests only weak selection for species-specific, spectral tuning of photoreceptors. Some species, however, have enhanced short wavelength sensitivity, which likely helps with the detection of signals rich in ultraviolet and short wavelengths. In this study, we examined the visual system of Tiliqua rugosa, which has a UV/blue tongue, to gain insight into this species' visual ecology. We used electroretinograms, opsin sequencing and immunohistochemical labelling to characterize whole eye spectral sensitivity and the elements that shape it. Our findings reveal that T. rugosa expresses all five opsins typically found in lizards (SWS1, SWS2, RH1, RH2 and LWS) but possesses greatly enhanced short wavelength sensitivity compared to other diurnal lizards. This enhanced short wavelength sensitivity is characterized by a broadening of the spectral sensitivity curve of the eye towards shorter wavelengths while the peak sensitivity of the eye at longer wavelengths (560 nm) remains similar to other diurnal lizards. While an increased abundance of SWS1 photoreceptors is thought to mediate elevated ultraviolet sensitivity in a couple of other lizard species, SWS1 photoreceptor abundance remains low in our species. Instead, our findings suggest that short-wavelength sensitivity is driven by multiple factors which include a potentially red-shifted SWS1 photoreceptor and the absence of short-wavelength absorbing oil droplets. Examining the coincidence of enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity with blue tongues among lizards of this genus will provide further insight into the co-evolution of conspecific signals and whole-eye spectral sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Nagloo
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, S-212263, Sweden.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia
| | - Jessica K Mountford
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Clinical Genetics and Epidemiology, and Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science incorporating the Lions Eye Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia
| | - Ben J Gundry
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia
| | - Nathan S Hart
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, 2109 NSW, Australia
| | - Wayne I L Davies
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Clinical Genetics and Epidemiology, and Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science incorporating the Lions Eye Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, S-90187, Sweden.,School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Shaun P Collin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,Clinical Genetics and Epidemiology, and Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science incorporating the Lions Eye Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia
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Ogawa Y, Narendra A, Hemmi JM. Nocturnal Myrmecia ants have faster temporal resolution at low light levels but lower adaptability compared to diurnal relatives. iScience 2022; 25:104134. [PMID: 35402879 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nocturnal insects likely have evolved distinct physiological adaptations to enhance sensitivity for tasks, such as catching moving prey, where the signal-noise ratio of visual information is typically low. Using electroretinogram recordings, we measured the impulse response and the flicker fusion frequency (FFF) in six congeneric species of Myrmecia ants with different diurnal rhythms. The FFF, which measures the ability of an eye to respond to a flickering light, is significantly lower in nocturnal ants (∼125 Hz) compared to diurnal ants (∼189 Hz). However, the nocturnal ants have faster eyes at very low light intensities than the diurnal species. During the day, nocturnal ants had slower impulse responses than their diurnal counterparts. However, at night, both latency and duration significantly shortened in nocturnal species. The characteristics of the impulse responses varied substantially across all six species and did not correlate well with the measured flicker fusion frequency. Flicker fusion frequency is lower in nocturnal ants compared to diurnal ants Latency and duration of the impulse response shorten at night in nocturnal ants In ants, the FFF is not predicted by the measured impulse response characteristics
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Guignard Q, Spaethe J, Slippers B, Strube-Bloss M, Allison JD. Evidence for UV-green dichromacy in the basal hymenopteran Sirex noctilio (Siricidae). Sci Rep 2021; 11:15601. [PMID: 34341410 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95107-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A precondition for colour vision is the presence of at least two spectral types of photoreceptors in the eye. The order Hymenoptera is traditionally divided into the Apocrita (ants, bees, wasps) and the Symphyta (sawflies, woodwasps, horntails). Most apocritan species possess three different photoreceptor types. In contrast, physiological studies in the Symphyta have reported one to four photoreceptor types. To better understand the evolution of photoreceptor diversity in the Hymenoptera, we studied the Symphyta Sirex noctilio, which belongs to the superfamily Siricoidea, a closely related group of the Apocrita suborder. Our aim was to (i) identify the photoreceptor types of the compound eye by electroretinography (ERG), (ii) characterise the visual opsin genes of S. noctilio by genomic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses and (iii) analyse opsin mRNA expression. ERG measurements revealed two photoreceptor types in the compound eye, maximally sensitive to 527 and 364 nm. In addition, we identified three opsins in the genome, homologous to the hymenopteran green or long-wavelength sensitive (LW) LW1, LW2 and ultra-violet sensitive (UV) opsin genes. The LW1 and UV opsins were found to be expressed in the compound eyes, and LW2 and UV opsins in the ocelli. The lack of a blue or short-wavelength sensitive (SW) homologous opsin gene and a corresponding receptor suggests that S. noctilio is a UV-green dichromate.
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Jessop AL, Ogawa Y, Bagheri ZM, Partridge JC, Hemmi JM. Photoreceptors and diurnal variation in spectral sensitivity in the fiddler crab Gelasimus dampieri. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb230979. [PMID: 33097568 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.230979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Colour signals, and the ability to detect them, are important for many animals and can be vital to their survival and fitness. Fiddler crabs use colour information to detect and recognise conspecifics, but their colour vision capabilities remain unclear. Many studies have attempted to measure their spectral sensitivity and identify contributing retinular cells, but the existing evidence is inconclusive. We used electroretinogram (ERG) measurements and intracellular recordings from retinular cells to estimate the spectral sensitivity of Gelasimus dampieri and to track diurnal changes in spectral sensitivity. G. dampieri has a broad spectral sensitivity and is most sensitive to wavelengths between 420 and 460 nm. Selective adaptation experiments uncovered an ultraviolet (UV) retinular cell with a peak sensitivity shorter than 360 nm. The species' spectral sensitivity above 400 nm is too broad to be fitted by a single visual pigment and using optical modelling, we provide evidence that at least two medium-wavelength sensitive (MWS) visual pigments are contained within a second blue-green sensitive retinular cell. We also found a ∼25 nm diurnal shift in spectral sensitivity towards longer wavelengths in the evening in both ERG and intracellular recordings. Whether the shift is caused by screening pigment migration or changes in opsin expression remains unclear, but the observation shows the diel dynamism of colour vision in this species. Together, these findings support the notion that G. dampieri possesses the minimum requirement for colour vision, with UV and blue/green receptors, and help to explain some of the inconsistent results of previous research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lee Jessop
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yuri Ogawa
- Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Zahra M Bagheri
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Julian C Partridge
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Kócsi Z, Murray T, Dahmen H, Narendra A, Zeil J. The Antarium: A Reconstructed Visual Reality Device for Ant Navigation Research. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:599374. [PMID: 33240057 PMCID: PMC7683616 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.599374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We constructed a large projection device (the Antarium) with 20,000 UV-Blue-Green LEDs that allows us to present tethered ants with views of their natural foraging environment. The ants walk on an air-cushioned trackball, their movements are registered and can be fed back to the visual panorama. Views are generated in a 3D model of the ants’ environment so that they experience the changing visual world in the same way as they do when foraging naturally. The Antarium is a biscribed pentakis dodecahedron with 55 facets of identical isosceles triangles. The length of the base of the triangles is 368 mm resulting in a device that is roughly 1 m in diameter. Each triangle contains 361 blue/green LEDs and nine UV LEDs. The 55 triangles of the Antarium have 19,855 Green and Blue pixels and 495 UV pixels, covering 360° azimuth and elevation from −50° below the horizon to +90° above the horizon. The angular resolution is 1.5° for Green and Blue LEDs and 6.7° for UV LEDs, offering 65,536 intensity levels at a flicker frequency of more than 9,000 Hz and a framerate of 190 fps. Also, the direction and degree of polarisation of the UV LEDs can be adjusted through polarisers mounted on the axles of rotary actuators. We build 3D models of the natural foraging environment of ants using purely camera-based methods. We reconstruct panoramic scenes at any point within these models, by projecting panoramic images onto six virtual cameras which capture a cube-map of images to be projected by the LEDs of the Antarium. The Antarium is a unique instrument to investigate visual navigation in ants. In an open loop, it allows us to provide ants with familiar and unfamiliar views, with completely featureless visual scenes, or with scenes that are altered in spatial or spectral composition. In closed-loop, we can study the behavior of ants that are virtually displaced within their natural foraging environment. In the future, the Antarium can also be used to investigate the dynamics of navigational guidance and the neurophysiological basis of ant navigation in natural visual environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Kócsi
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Trevor Murray
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Hansjürgen Dahmen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Clifton GT, Holway D, Gravish N. Vision does not impact walking performance in Argentine ants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/20/jeb228460. [PMID: 33067354 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.228460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many walking insects use vision for long-distance navigation, but the influence of vision on rapid walking performance that requires close-range obstacle detection and directing the limbs towards stable footholds remains largely untested. We compared Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) workers in light versus darkness while traversing flat and uneven terrain. In darkness, ants reduced flat-ground walking speeds by only 5%. Similarly, the approach speed and time to cross a step obstacle were not significantly affected by lack of lighting. To determine whether tactile sensing might compensate for vision loss, we tracked antennal motion and observed shifts in spatiotemporal activity as a result of terrain structure but not illumination. Together, these findings suggest that vision does not impact walking performance in Argentine ant workers. Our results help contextualize eye variation across ants, including subterranean, nocturnal and eyeless species that walk in complete darkness. More broadly, our findings highlight the importance of integrating vision, proprioception and tactile sensing for robust locomotion in unstructured environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenna T Clifton
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA .,Department of Biology, University of Portland, Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - David Holway
- Division of Biological Science, Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicholas Gravish
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Liberti J, Görner J, Welch M, Dosselli R, Schiøtt M, Ogawa Y, Castleden I, Hemmi JM, Baer-Imhoof B, Boomsma JJ, Baer B. Seminal fluid compromises visual perception in honeybee queens reducing their survival during additional mating flights. eLife 2019; 8:45009. [PMID: 31500699 PMCID: PMC6739865 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Queens of social insects make all mate-choice decisions on a single day, except in honeybees whose queens can conduct mating flights for several days even when already inseminated by a number of drones. Honeybees therefore appear to have a unique, evolutionarily derived form of sexual conflict: a queen’s decision to pursue risky additional mating flights is driven by later-life fitness gains from genetically more diverse worker-offspring but reduces paternity shares of the drones she already mated with. We used artificial insemination, RNA-sequencing and electroretinography to show that seminal fluid induces a decline in queen vision by perturbing the phototransduction pathway within 24–48 hr. Follow up field trials revealed that queens receiving seminal fluid flew two days earlier than sister queens inseminated with saline, and failed more often to return. These findings are consistent with seminal fluid components manipulating queen eyesight to reduce queen promiscuity across mating flights. For social insects like honeybees it is beneficial if their queens mate with many males, because genetic diversity can protect the hive against parasites. Early in life, a honeybee queen has a short period of time in which she can fly out to mate with males before returning to the hive with all the sperm needed to last for a lifetime. Queens that have mated on their first flight may embark on additional mating flights over a few consecutive days to further increase genetic variability in their offspring. This is problematic for a male that has already mated because the more males that inseminate the queen the fewer offspring will carry on his specific genes. This results in sexual conflict between males and queens over the number of mating flights. In many animals, males manipulate females using molecules in seminal fluid to reduce the chances of the female mating again and honeybee males may use a similar strategy. Previous studies revealed that insemination alters the activity of genes related to vision in a honeybee queen’s brain. This could be one way for the males to prevent queens from embarking on additional mating flights. Now, Liberti et al. find support for this idea by showing that seminal fluid can indeed trigger changes in the activity of vision-related genes in the brains of honeybee queens, which in turn reduce a queen’s opportunity to complete additional mating flights. Queens inseminated with seminal fluid were less responsive to light compared to queens that were exposed to saline instead. Electronic tracking devices affixed to queens showed that the seminal fluid-exposed queens left for mating flights sooner but were more likely to get lost and to not return to their hives compared to the saline-exposed queens. The experiments support the idea of a sexual arms race in honeybees. Males use seminal fluid to cause rapid deteriorating vision in queens, thus reducing their likelihood of leaving the hive to mate again and to find males when they do fly again. The queens try to counteract these effects by leaving for mating flights sooner, thereby increasing offspring genetic diversity and the success of their colonies. Further studies will be needed to find out how the honeybee sexual arms race varies across seasons, bee races, and geographic ranges. Such information will be useful for honeybee breeding programs, which rely on queen mating success and hive genetic diversity to ensure hive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanito Liberti
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julia Görner
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Mat Welch
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ryan Dosselli
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Morten Schiøtt
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yuri Ogawa
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ian Castleden
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Barbara Baer-Imhoof
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
| | - Jacobus J Boomsma
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boris Baer
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
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Dieng H, Satho T, Binti Arzemi NA, Aliasan NE, Abang F, Wydiamala E, Miake F, Zuharah WF, Abu Kassim NF, Morales Vargas RE, Morales NP, Noweg GT. Exposure of a diurnal mosquito vector to floral mimics: Foraging responses, feeding patterns, and significance for sugar bait technology. Acta Trop 2018; 185:230-238. [PMID: 29856985 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Food location by mosquitoes is mediated by resource-derived olfactory and visual signals. Smell sensation is intermittent and dependent on the environment, whereas visual signals are continual and precede olfactory cues. Success of mosquito bait technology, where olfactory cues are used for attraction, is being impeded by reduced attractiveness. Despite proof that mosquitoes respond to colored objects, including those mimicking floral shape, and that they can discriminate among flowers, the impacts of artificial flowers on foraging remain unexplored. Using artificial flowers with sugar rewards, we examined the foraging responses of Aedes aegypti to various colors in equal choice bioassays. Starved adults were exposed to single flowers with petals of a given color (Single Blue Flowers [SBFs]; Single Red Flowers [SRFs]; Single Yellow Flowers [SYFs]; Single Pink Flowers [SPIFs]; and Single Purple Flowers [SPFs]) and two others with white petals (SWFs). Discrepancies in response time, visitation, feeding, and resting of both sexes were compared between colored flowers and SWFs. Ae. aegypti exhibited shorter response times to colored flowers compared to SWFs, but this behavior was mostly seen for SBFs or SYFs in females, and SRFs, SYFs, SPIFs, or SPFs in males. When provided an option to land on colored flowers and SWFs, female visitation occurred at high rates on SBFs, SRFs, SYFs, SPIFs, and SPFs; for males, this preference for colored flowers was seen to a lesser degree on SBF and SPIFs. Both sexes exhibited preference for colored flowers as sugar sources, but with different patterns: SPIFs, SRFs, SYFs, and SPFs for females; SYFs, SPFs, SPIFs and SRFs for males. Females preferentially rested on colored flowers when in competition with SWFs, but this preference was more pronounced for SPFs, SRFs, and SBFs. Males exhibited an increased preference for SRFs, SPFs, and SYFs as resting sites. Our results indicated the attraction of Ae. aegypti to rewarding artificial flowers, in some cases in ways similar to live flowering plants. The discovery that both male and female Ae. aegypti can feed on nectar mimics held by artificial flowers opens new avenues for improving sugar bait technology and for developing new attract-and-kill devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamady Dieng
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Tomomitsu Satho
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
| | | | - Nur Ezzati Aliasan
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Fatimah Abang
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Erida Wydiamala
- Faculty of Medicine, Lambung Mangkurat University, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
| | - Fumio Miake
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
| | - Wan Fatma Zuharah
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Gabriel Tonga Noweg
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
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13
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Yilmaz A, Dyer AG, Rössler W, Spaethe J. Innate colour preference, individual learning and memory retention in the ant Camponotus blandus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 220:3315-3326. [PMID: 28931719 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.158501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Ants are a well-characterized insect model for the study of visual learning and orientation, but the extent to which colour vision is involved in these tasks remains unknown. We investigated the colour preference, learning and memory retention of Camponotus blandus foragers under controlled laboratory conditions. Our results show that C. blandus foragers exhibit a strong innate preference for ultraviolet (UV, 365 nm) over blue (450 nm) and green (528 nm) wavelengths. The ants can learn to discriminate 365 nm from either 528 nm or 450 nm, independent of intensity changes. However, they fail to discriminate between 450 nm and 528 nm. Modelling of putative colour spaces involving different numbers of photoreceptor types revealed that colour discrimination performance of individual ants is best explained by dichromacy, comprising a short-wavelength (UV) receptor with peak sensitivity at about 360 nm, and a long-wavelength receptor with peak sensitivity between 470 nm and 560 nm. Foragers trained to discriminate blue or green from UV light are able to retain the learned colour information in an early mid-term (e-MTM), late mid-term (l-MTM), early long-term (e-LTM) and late long-term (l-LTM) memory from where it can be retrieved after 1 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days and 7 days after training, indicating that colour learning may induce different memory phases in ants. Overall, our results show that ants can use chromatic information in a way that should promote efficient foraging in complex natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Yilmaz
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Adrian G Dyer
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.,School of Media and Communication, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Spaethe
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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14
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Abstract
Abstract
Ants constitute one of the most intriguing animal groups with their advanced social lifes, different life histories and sensory modalities, one of which is vision. Chemosensation dominates all other modalities in the accomplishment of different vital tasks, but vision, varying from total blindness in some species to a relatively well-developed vision providing ants the basis for visually-guided behaviors, is also of importance. Although studies on ant vision mainly focused on recognition of and guidance by landmark cues in artificial and/or natural conditions, spectral sensitivities of their compound eyes and ocelli were also disclosed, but to a lesser extent. In this review, we have tried to present current data on the spectral sensitivities of the different ant species tested so far and the different methodological approaches. The results, as well as the similarities and/or discrepancies of the methodologies applied, were compared. General tendencies in ants’ spectral sensitivities are presented in a comparative manner and the role of opsins and ant ocelli in their spectral sensitivity is discussed in addition to the sensitivity of ants to long wavelengths. Extraocular sensitivity was also shown in some ant species. The advantages and/or disadvantages of a dichromatic and trichromatic color vision system are discussed from an ecological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Aksoy
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Balkan Campus, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
| | - Yilmaz Camlitepe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Balkan Campus, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
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15
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Narendra A, Ramirez-Esquivel F. Subtle changes in the landmark panorama disrupt visual navigation in a nocturnal bull ant. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2016.0068. [PMID: 28193813 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of ants to navigate when the visual landmark information is altered has often been tested by creating large and artificial discrepancies in their visual environment. Here, we had an opportunity to slightly modify the natural visual environment around the nest of the nocturnal bull ant Myrmecia pyriformis We achieved this by felling three dead trees, two located along the typical route followed by the foragers of that particular nest and one in a direction perpendicular to their foraging direction. An image difference analysis showed that the change in the overall panorama following the removal of these trees was relatively little. We filmed the behaviour of ants close to the nest and tracked their entire paths, both before and after the trees were removed. We found that immediately after the trees were removed, ants walked slower and were less directed. Their foraging success decreased and they looked around more, including turning back to look towards the nest. We document how their behaviour changed over subsequent nights and discuss how the ants may detect and respond to a modified visual environment in the evening twilight period.This article is part of the themed issue 'Vision in dim light'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 205 Culloden Road, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Fiorella Ramirez-Esquivel
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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16
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Heyman Y, Shental N, Brandis A, Hefetz A, Feinerman O. Ants regulate colony spatial organization using multiple chemical road-signs. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15414. [PMID: 28569746 PMCID: PMC5461491 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Communication provides the basis for social life. In ant colonies, the prevalence of local, often chemically mediated, interactions introduces strong links between communication networks and the spatial distribution of ants. It is, however, unknown how ants identify and maintain nest chambers with distinct functions. Here, we combine individual tracking, chemical analysis and machine learning to decipher the chemical signatures present on multiple nest surfaces. We present evidence for several distinct chemical 'road-signs' that guide the ants' movements within the dark nest. These chemical signatures can be used to classify nest chambers with different functional roles. Using behavioural manipulations, we demonstrate that at least three of these chemical signatures are functionally meaningful and allow ants from different task groups to identify their specific nest destinations, thus facilitating colony coordination and stabilization. The use of multiple chemicals that assist spatiotemporal guidance, segregation and pattern formation is abundant in multi-cellular organisms. Here, we provide a rare example for the use of these principles in the ant colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Heyman
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Noam Shental
- Department of Computer Science, The Open University of Israel, Raanana 4353701, Israel
| | - Alexander Brandis
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Abraham Hefetz
- Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ofer Feinerman
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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17
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Differt D, Möller R. Spectral Skyline Separation: Extended Landmark Databases and Panoramic Imaging. Sensors (Basel) 2016; 16:E1614. [PMID: 27690053 DOI: 10.3390/s16101614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from behavioral experiments suggests that insects use the skyline as a cue for visual navigation. However, changes of lighting conditions, over hours, days or possibly seasons, significantly affect the appearance of the sky and ground objects. One possible solution to this problem is to extract the “skyline” by an illumination-invariant classification of the environment into two classes, ground objects and sky. In a previous study (Insect models of illumination-invariant skyline extraction from UV (ultraviolet) and green channels), we examined the idea of using two different color channels available for many insects (UV and green) to perform this segmentation. We found out that for suburban scenes in temperate zones, where the skyline is dominated by trees and artificial objects like houses, a “local” UV segmentation with adaptive thresholds applied to individual images leads to the most reliable classification. Furthermore, a “global” segmentation with fixed thresholds (trained on an image dataset recorded over several days) using UV-only information is only slightly worse compared to using both the UV and green channel. In this study, we address three issues: First, to enhance the limited range of environments covered by the dataset collected in the previous study, we gathered additional data samples of skylines consisting of minerals (stones, sand, earth) as ground objects. We could show that also for mineral-rich environments, UV-only segmentation achieves a quality comparable to multi-spectral (UV and green) segmentation. Second, we collected a wide variety of ground objects to examine their spectral characteristics under different lighting conditions. On the one hand, we found that the special case of diffusely-illuminated minerals increases the difficulty to reliably separate ground objects from the sky. On the other hand, the spectral characteristics of this collection of ground objects covers well with the data collected in the skyline databases, increasing, due to the increased variety of ground objects, the validity of our findings for novel environments. Third, we collected omnidirectional images, as often used for visual navigation tasks, of skylines using an UV-reflective hyperbolic mirror. We could show that “local” separation techniques can be adapted to the use of panoramic images by splitting the image into segments and finding individual thresholds for each segment. Contrarily, this is not possible for ‘global’ separation techniques.
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18
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Belušič G, Ilić M, Meglič A, Pirih P. A fast multispectral light synthesiser based on LEDs and a diffraction grating. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32012. [PMID: 27558155 PMCID: PMC4997569 DOI: 10.1038/srep32012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical experiments often require fast-switching light sources with adjustable bandwidths and intensities. We constructed a wavelength combiner based on a reflective planar diffraction grating and light emitting diodes with emission peaks from 350 to 630 nm that were positioned at the angles corresponding to the first diffraction order of the reversed beam. The combined output beam was launched into a fibre. The spacing between 22 equally wide spectral bands was about 15 nm. The time resolution of the pulse-width modulation drivers was 1 ms. The source was validated with a fast intracellular measurement of the spectral sensitivity of blowfly photoreceptors. In hyperspectral imaging of Xenopus skin circulation, the wavelength resolution was adequate to resolve haemoglobin absorption spectra. The device contains no moving parts, has low stray light and is intrinsically capable of multi-band output. Possible applications include visual physiology, biomedical optics, microscopy and spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Belušič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Ilić
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Meglič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Primož Pirih
- Sokendai (The Graduate University of Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
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19
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O'Shea-Wheller TA, Sendova-Franks AB, Franks NR. Migration control: a distance compensation strategy in ants. Naturwissenschaften 2016; 103:66. [PMID: 27430995 PMCID: PMC4949290 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-016-1386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Migratory behaviour forms an intrinsic part of the life histories of many organisms but is often a high-risk process. Consequently, varied strategies have evolved to negate such risks, but empirical data relating to their functioning are limited. In this study, we use the model system of the house-hunting ant Temnothorax albipennis to demonstrate a key strategy that can shorten migration exposure times in a group of social insects. Colonies of these ants frequently migrate to new nest sites, and due to the nature of their habitat, the distances over which they do so are variable, leading to fluctuating potential costs dependent on migration parameters. We show that colonies of this species facultatively alter the dynamics of a migration and so compensate for the distance over which a given migration occurs. Specifically, they achieve this by modulating the rate of 'tandem running', in which workers teach each other the route to a new nest site. Using this method, colonies are able to engage a larger number of individuals in the migration process when the distance to be traversed is greater, and furthermore, the system appears to be based on perceived encounter rate at the individual level. This form of decentralised control highlights the adaptive nature of a behaviour of ecological importance, and indicates that the key to its robustness lies in the use of simple rules. Additionally, our results suggest that such coordinated group reactions are central to achieving the high levels of ecological success seen in many eusocial organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A O'Shea-Wheller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, UK.
| | - Ana B Sendova-Franks
- Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics, UWE Bristol, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, UK
| | - Nigel R Franks
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, UK
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20
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Schultheiss P, Wystrach A, Schwarz S, Tack A, Delor J, Nooten SS, Bibost AL, Freas CA, Cheng K. Crucial role of ultraviolet light for desert ants in determining direction from the terrestrial panorama. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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21
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Raderschall CA, Narendra A, Zeil J. Head roll stabilisation in the nocturnal bull ant Myrmecia pyriformis: implications for visual navigation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:1449-57. [PMID: 26994172 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.134049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Ant foragers are known to memorise visual scenes that allow them to repeatedly travel along idiosyncratic routes and to return to specific places. Guidance is provided by a comparison between visual memories and current views, which critically depends on how well the attitude of the visual system is controlled. Here we show that nocturnal bull ants stabilise their head to varying degrees against locomotion-induced body roll movements, and this ability decreases as light levels fall. There are always un-compensated head roll oscillations that match the frequency of the stride cycle. Head roll stabilisation involves both visual and non-visual cues as ants compensate for body roll in complete darkness and also respond with head roll movements when confronted with visual pattern oscillations. We show that imperfect head roll control degrades navigation-relevant visual information and discuss ways in which navigating ants may deal with this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé A Raderschall
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Ajay Narendra
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, W19F, 205 Culloden Road, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Jochen Zeil
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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22
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Narendra A, Ramirez-Esquivel F, Ribi WA. Compound eye and ocellar structure for walking and flying modes of locomotion in the Australian ant, Camponotus consobrinus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22331. [PMID: 26975481 PMCID: PMC4792140 DOI: 10.1038/srep22331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ants are unusual among insects in that individuals of the same species within a single colony have different modes of locomotion and tasks. We know from walking ants that vision plays a significant role in guiding this behaviour, but we know surprisingly little about the potential contribution of visual sensory structures for a flying mode of locomotion. Here we investigate the structure of the compound eye and ocelli in pedestrian workers, alate females and alate males of an Australian ant, Camponotus consobrinus, and discuss the trade-offs involved in optical sensitivity and spatial resolution. Male ants have more but smaller ommatidia and the smallest interommatidial angles, which is most likely an adaptation to visually track individual flying females. Both walking and flying forms of ants have a similar proportion of specialized receptors sensitive to polarized skylight, but the absolute number of these receptors varies, being greatest in males. Ocelli are present only in the flying forms. Each ocellus consists of a bipartite retina with a horizon-facing dorsal retina, which contains retinula cells with long rhabdoms, and a sky-facing ventral retina with shorter rhabdoms. We discuss the implications of these and their potential for sensing the pattern of polarized skylight.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptation, Ocular/physiology
- Animals
- Ants/cytology
- Ants/physiology
- Ants/ultrastructure
- Australia
- Compound Eye, Arthropod/cytology
- Compound Eye, Arthropod/physiology
- Compound Eye, Arthropod/ultrastructure
- Female
- Flight, Animal/physiology
- Locomotion/physiology
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
- Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate/cytology
- Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate/physiology
- Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate/ultrastructure
- Sex Factors
- Spatial Navigation/physiology
- Vision, Ocular/physiology
- Walking/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Narendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | - Willi A. Ribi
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Lund, Lund S-22362, Sweden
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23
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Yilmaz A, Lindenberg A, Albert S, Grübel K, Spaethe J, Rössler W, Groh C. Age-related and light-induced plasticity in opsin gene expression and in primary and secondary visual centers of the nectar-feeding ant Camponotus rufipes. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 76:1041-57. [PMID: 26724470 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Camponotus rufipes workers are characterized by an age-related polyethism. In the initial weeks of adult life, young workers perform tasks inside the nest before they switch to multimodal foraging tasks outside. We tested the hypothesis that this transition is accompanied by profound adaptations in the peripheral and central visual systems. Our results show that C. rufipes workers of all tested ages (between 1 and 42 days) express three genes encoding for ultraviolet (UV), blue (BL), and long-wavelength (LW1) sensitive opsins in their retina, which are likely to provide the substrate for trichromatic color vision. Expression levels of all three opsin genes increased significantly within the first two weeks of adulthood and following light exposure. Interestingly, the volumes of all three optic neuropils (lamina, medulla, and lobula) showed corresponding volume increases. Tracing of connections to higher visual centers in the mushroom bodies (MBs) revealed only one optic pathway, the anterior superior optic tract, emerging from the medulla and sending segregated input to the MB-calyx collar. The MB collar volumes and densities of synaptic complexes (microglomeruli, MGs) increased with age. Exposure to light for 4 days induced a decrease in MG densities followed by an increase after extended light exposure. This shows that plasticity in retinal opsin gene expression and structural neuroplasticity in primary and secondary visual centers comprise both "experience-independent" and "experience-dependent" elements. We conclude that both sources of plasticity in the visual system represent important components promoting optimal timing of the interior-forager transition and flexibility of age-related division of labor. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 1041-1057, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Yilmaz
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
| | - Annekathrin Lindenberg
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
| | - Stefan Albert
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
| | - Kornelia Grübel
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
| | - Johannes Spaethe
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
| | - Claudia Groh
- Department of Behavioral Physiology & Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany
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24
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Wystrach A, Dewar A, Philippides A, Graham P. How do field of view and resolution affect the information content of panoramic scenes for visual navigation? A computational investigation. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2016; 202:87-95. [PMID: 26582183 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-015-1052-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The visual systems of animals have to provide information to guide behaviour and the informational requirements of an animal's behavioural repertoire are often reflected in its sensory system. For insects, this is often evident in the optical array of the compound eye. One behaviour that insects share with many animals is the use of learnt visual information for navigation. As ants are expert visual navigators it may be that their vision is optimised for navigation. Here we take a computational approach in asking how the details of the optical array influence the informational content of scenes used in simple view matching strategies for orientation. We find that robust orientation is best achieved with low-resolution visual information and a large field of view, similar to the optical properties seen for many ant species. A lower resolution allows for a trade-off between specificity and generalisation for stored views. Additionally, our simulations show that orientation performance increases if different portions of the visual field are considered as discrete visual sensors, each giving an independent directional estimate. This suggests that ants might benefit by processing information from their two eyes independently.
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25
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Stürzl W, Grixa I, Mair E, Narendra A, Zeil J. Three-dimensional models of natural environments and the mapping of navigational information. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2015; 201:563-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-015-1002-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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