Energetic cost of digging behavior in workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Fabricius)

Camargo, Roberto da Silva; Lopes, Juliane Floriano Santos; Forti, Luíz Carlos

doi:10.1590/s0085-56262013005000035

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Also, this indicates an evolutionary trade‐off between minimizing energy expenditure during excavation, which could significantly affect queen survival (Camargo et al, 2011), and maximizing the depth of the nest, increasing protection against inadequate environmental conditions (Camargo et al, 2011; Silva et al, 2015). Indeed, the excavation of a shallow chamber requires less energy, but the queens are potentially exposed to environmental stress, such as temperature changes and desiccation (Camargo et al, 2011, 2013). On the other hand, queens who establish their nest deeper may be microclimatically more stable, but require a greater effort and more time to excavate, which prolongs their exposure to predators during the excavation (Camargo & Forti, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do soil density and humidity affect nest‐founding in leaf‐cutting ant queens?

Sousa

Camargo

Caldato

et al. 2022

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The habitat choice of nest sites by founding queens of leaf‐cutting ants varies with abiotic factors such as temperature, soil density, and soil humidity. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that soil density and moisture affect excavation effort (i.e., excavation period, excavated soil amount, initial nest depth, initial chamber volume, and mortality) in queens of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta sexdens (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Queens were placed in experimental areas in three natural soils in Brazil with varying density and moisture content. The excavated soil was collected, dried, and weighed, and digging period, nest depth, chamber volume, and queen mortality were evaluated after nest establishment. In artificially shaded habitats (less dense and more humid soil), the establishment of queens was greater, the period of nest foundation was shorter, and excavated soil amount, nest depth, and volume of the initial chamber were greater than in forest and pasture habitats (denser and drier soils). Also, queen mortality was lower in less dense, more humid soil. This indicates a trade‐off between maximizing the depth of the nest, to increase protection against inadequate environmental conditions, and minimizing energy expenditure during excavation, affecting their survival.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do soil density and humidity affect nest‐founding in leaf‐cutting ant queens?

Sousa

Camargo

Caldato

et al. 2022

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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show abstract

“…For example, during foraging the Rhytidoponera aurata (Roger, 1861) the mean cost of load carriage was just 7.26% more than the mean cost of locomotion (Nielsen, 2001). These data contrast with that from nest excavation activity, during which Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) workers produced, on average, 32.42% more CO2 than workers that are not performing this activity (Camargo et al, 2013a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Magnitude and drivers of greenhouse gas emission from ant nests

Caiafa¹

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Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is a worldwide concern, making the identification of emission sources and their magnitude an urgent issue. Ants release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) from their nests. Beyond the already known anthropogenic sources of CO2 emissions, such as fossil fuel combustion in the power generation, industrial, residential, and transport sectors, the evaluation of GHG emissions from ant nests is a current research target. However, there are still gaps regarding the real impact of ant nests on GHG emission, primarily because most surveys were conducted excluding anthropogenic areas. In the present study, we aimed to fill part of these gaps by evaluating the magnitude and drivers of GHG emission from ant nests. Our results were organized over three chapters. First, chapter I discussed the current scenario and highlighted the methodological issues of the studies on GHG emissions from ant nests using a systematic review as methodology. We present a scientometry of available publications, which revealed the lack of investigations of ant nests emission in anthropogenic areas and on countries that are higher sources of anthropogenic GHG. Second, in Chapter II, we’ve made a methodology test related to the closed chamber method, guided by some warnings which stood out in the systematic review. Results revealed a dilution effect of the soil surface over the CO2 measurements when using chambers whose diameters are significantly larger than the nest hole. Finally, in Chapter III, we’ve made field measurements of CO2 emissions from Acromyrmex subterraneus nests in urban areas, considering the effect of features of the nest. This investigation revealed an association of CO2 flux with the function of the nest hole, a component of ant nests not yet investigated. Obtained results also showed that ant nests are on a par with recognized anthropogenic CO2 sources, adding one more point to consider in the context of climate change, considering the facility of installation of some ant species in urban and disturbed areas. We hope that these results contribute to expanding knowledge regarding the role of ant nests in CO2 emissions and could even guide the next steps for future investigations.

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Modularity and connectivity of nest structure scale with colony size

Miller

Wan

Pinter‐Wollman

2021

Preprint

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Large body sizes have evolved structures to facilitate resource transport. Like unitary organisms, social insect colonies must transport information and resources, and colonies with more individuals may experience transport challenges similar to large-bodied organisms. In ant colonies, transport occurs in the nest, which may consist of structures that facilitate movement. We examine three attributes of nest structures that could mitigate transport challenges related to colony size: (1) subdivision - nests of species with large colonies are more subdivided to reduce viscosity of large crowds; (2) branching - nest tunnels increase branching in species with large colonies to reduce travel distances; and (3) short-cuts – nests of species with large colonies have cross-linking tunnels to connect distant parts of the nest and create alternative routes. We test these hypotheses by comparing nest structures of species with different colony sizes in phylogenetically controlled meta-analyses. Our findings support the subdivision and branching hypotheses. The nests of species with large colonies contain more, but not larger, chambers and reduce travel distances by increasing branching frequency. The similarity in how ant nests and the bodies of unitary organisms respond to increasing size suggests structural solutions that are common across levels of biological organization.

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Energetic cost of digging behavior in workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Fabricius)

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

Do soil density and humidity affect nest‐founding in leaf‐cutting ant queens?

Do soil density and humidity affect nest‐founding in leaf‐cutting ant queens?

Magnitude and drivers of greenhouse gas emission from ant nests

Modularity and connectivity of nest structure scale with colony size

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