A simple method for determining location of foraging ant nests using leaf cutting ants as a model

Fowler, H. G.; Schlindwein, Marcelo Nivert; Schlittler, F. M.; Forti, Luíz Carlos

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0418.1993.tb01216.x

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…A hole was considered as active whenever we could see ants exiting or entering it with pieces of grass, whether or not a physical trail was active. To identify the nest of origin of new foraging holes we used the method developed by Fowler et al [ 33 ] which consists in placing tiny colored objects daubed with powder made from sugar cane leaves around a foraging hole and checking for their presence on the mound of loose soil above the surrounding nests during the next days. We followed all physical trails departing from new holes and marked the end of each trail (including branched trails) with a labeled stake.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Foraging Networks in the Grass-Cutting Ant Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 (Formicidae, Attini)

et al. 2016

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Foraging networks are a key element for ant colonies because they facilitate the flow of resources from the environment to the nest and they allow the sharing of information among individuals. Here we report the results of an 8-month survey, extending from November 2009 to June 2010, of the foraging networks of four mature colonies of Atta bisphaerica, a species of grass-cutting ant which is considered as a pest in Brazil. We found that the distribution of foraging effort was strongly influenced by the landscape features around the nests, in particular by the permanently wet parts of the pasture in which the nests were located. The foraging networks consisted of underground tunnels which opened on average at 21.5m from the nests and of above-ground physical trails that reached on average 4.70m in length. The use of the foraging networks was highly dynamic, with few sections of the networks used for long periods of time. Three different phases, which could be linked to the seasonal change in the local rainfall regime, could be identified in the construction and use of the foraging networks. The first phase corresponded to the beginning of the rainy season and was characterized by a low foraging activity, as well as a low excavation and physical trail construction effort. The second phase, which began in February and extended up to the end of the humid season at the end of March, was characterized by an intense excavation and trail construction effort, resulting in an expansion of the foraging networks. Finally, in the third phase, which corresponded to the beginning of the dry season, the excavation and trail construction effort leveled off or decreased while foraging activity kept increasing. Our hypothesis is that ants could benefit from the underground tunnels and physical trails built during the humid season to maintain their foraging activity at a high level.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Foraging Networks in the Grass-Cutting Ant Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 (Formicidae, Attini)

et al. 2016

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“…Three colonies of Atta sexdens were chosen; some of the foraging orifices were mapped with plastic straws impregnated with ground citrus pulp and orange juice ( F owler et al, 1993 ), so as to make certain that the coloured baits were being applied to the same nest. Mapping around the colony allowed division into three sectors, at angles of 120° to each other.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dyed baits distribution in nests of Atta sexdens L. (Hym., Formicidae)

Pretto

Forti

2000

J Applied Entomology

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Dyed baits distribution in colonies of Atta sexdens was studied so as to test the hypothesis of uniform distribution. Three medium‐ to large‐size (34–90 m2) colonies were used for the experiment; coloured dyed baits material was made available at the foraging orifices, which had previously been mapped out and grouped into three hypothetical sectors. After 24 h the colonies were killed and the nests excavated; the fungus was removed from each of the chambers for observation of the presence or absence of dyed baits. It was shown that coloured material from each of the different sectors was found in all the fungus chambers, thus confirming the hypothesis.

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“…The foraging activity method requires remaining at a fixed point along a colony's foraging trail (close to the entrance/exit hole) and collecting all of the plant fragments transported by workers during a 3 min interval. Because A. laevigata builds underground foraging galleries, with trails extending from the entrances to these galleries along the soil surface to the plants being cut, we used a modified version of the method described by Fowler et al (1993) to confirm what trails belonged to which focal colony.…”

Section: Estimating Atta Colony Density and Biomass Consumptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do herbivores exert top‐down effects in Neotropical savannas? Estimates of biomass consumption by leaf‐cutter ants

Costa

Vasconcelos

Vieira‐Neto

et al. 2008

J Vegetation Science

125

133

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Question: Plant communities in Paleotropical savannas are regulated by a combination of bottom‐up and top‐down effects. However, the paucity of ungulates and other large herbivores in Neotropical savannas has led to speculation that these communities are primarily structured by physical factors such as fire, precipitation and soil chemistry. We addressed the following question: How much plant biomass is consumed by leaf‐cutter ants in Neotropical savannas, and is it comparable to the amount of biomass consumed by herbivores in Paleotropical savanna sites? Location: Our study was conducted at the Estação Ecológica do Panga, located 30 km south of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. All field work was conducted in the vegetation type known as cerrado sensu stricto. Methods and Results Using direct measurements of herbivory, coupled with estimates of plant productivity and ant colony density, we found that leaf‐cutter ants (Atta spp.) consume 13–17% of the foliar biomass produced annually by woody plants in a Neotropical savanna (Brazilian cerrado). Although comparisons with other savanna systems are complicated by methodological differences among studies, the proportion of biomass consumed by Atta species is about 25% of that consumed by the entire ungulate community in some African savannas and greater than or comparable to the total herbivory observed in some terrestrial ecosystems. Conclusions: We hypothesize that this intense biomass consumption by Atta will have important ecological consequences for the cerrado ecosystem, because leaf‐cutter abundance increases in fragmented or degraded habitats. These effects are likely to be exacerbated as anthropogenic pressure in this biodiversity hotspot increases.

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A simple method for determining location of foraging ant nests using leaf cutting ants as a model

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Foraging Networks in the Grass-Cutting Ant Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 (Formicidae, Attini)

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Foraging Networks in the Grass-Cutting Ant Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 (Formicidae, Attini)

Dyed baits distribution in nests of Atta sexdens L. (Hym., Formicidae)

Do herbivores exert top‐down effects in Neotropical savannas? Estimates of biomass consumption by leaf‐cutter ants

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