Asymmetry in antennal contacts during trophallaxis in ants

Frasnelli, Elisa; Iakovlev, I. K.; Резникова, Ж. И.

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2012.03.014

Cited by 43 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Regardless, the presence of a bias suggests lateral specialization within an antennae pair that affects odor sampling on simple trails. This fits with evidence from a variety of studies which has shown a lateralization of insect brains and behaviors (Buchanan, 2015;Wes, 2001;Letzkus, 2006;Rogers, 2013;Frasnelli, 2012).…”

Section: Antennae Have Non-redundant Roles In Sampling Odor Trailssupporting

confidence: 89%

Carpenter ants use diverse antennae sampling strategies to track odor trails

McGill

Kapoor

Murthy

2018

Preprint

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Statement: High resolution imaging of antennae reveals distinct patterns of sampling with non-redundant roles in odor tracking. AbstractDirected and meaningful animal behavior depends on the ability to sense key features in the environment. Among the different environmental signals, olfactory cues are critically important for foraging, navigation, and social communication in many species, including ants. Ants use their two antennae to explore the olfactory world, but how they do so remains largely unknown.In this study, we use high resolution videography to characterize the antennae dynamics of carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). Antennae are highly active during both tracking and exploratory behavior. When tracking, ants used several distinct behavioral strategies with stereotyped antennae sampling patterns (which we call sinusoidal behavior, probing, and trail following). In all behaviors, left and right antennae movements were anti-correlated, and tracking ants exhibited biases in the use of left vs right antenna to sample the odor trail. These results suggest non-redundant roles for the two antennae. In one of the behavioral modules (trail following), ants used both antennae to detect trail edges and direct subsequent turns, suggesting a specialized form of tropotaxis. Lastly, removal of an antenna resulted not only in less accurate tracking but also in changes in the sampling pattern of the remaining antenna. Our quantitative characterization of odor trail tracking lays a foundation to build better models of olfactory sensory processing and sensorimotor behavior in terrestrial insects.

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Section: Antennae Have Non-redundant Roles In Sampling Odor Trailssupporting

confidence: 89%

Carpenter ants use diverse antennae sampling strategies to track odor trails

McGill

Kapoor

Murthy

2018

Preprint

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“…2A, last row). While it is tempting to discuss this in the context of laterality, for which there is evidence in ants and bees at both the population and individual level (Basari et al, 2014;Frasnelli et al, 2012;Hunt et al, 2014;Ong et al, 2017), we think that is not the case here. We think the bias may be Table S1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Miniaturisation decreases visual navigational competence in ants

Palavalli-Nettimi

Narendra

2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Evolution of a smaller body size in a given lineage, called miniaturisation, is commonly observed in many animals including ants. It affects various morphological features and is hypothesised to result in inferior behavioural capabilities, possibly owing to smaller sensory organs. To test this hypothesis, we studied whether reduced spatial resolution of compound eyes influences obstacle detection or obstacle avoidance in five different species of ants. We trained all ant species to travel to a sugar feeder. During their return journeys, we placed an obstacle close to the nest entrance. We found that ants with higher spatial resolution exited the corridor - the area between the two ends of the obstacle - on average 10 cm earlier, suggesting they detected the obstacle earlier in their path. Ants with the lowest spatial resolution changed their viewing directions only when they were close to the obstacle. We discuss the effects of miniaturisation on visual navigational competence in ants.

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“…Pairs of bees using their left antennae showed inappropriate social behaviour, exemplified by performing more C-responses when both bees were from the same hive and fewer C-responses when the bees were from different hives. Lateralized behaviour has been reported also in other invertebrate species [26], including ants [27] and spiders [28,29]. Even octopuses display eye preferences, despite their radial symmetry, but in their case, individuals can be biased either left or right, and there is no population bias [30,31].…”

Section: Asymmetry In the Brains Of Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 90%

When and Why Did Brains Break Symmetry?

Rogers

Vallortígara

2015

Symmetry

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Asymmetry of brain function is known to be widespread amongst vertebrates, and it seems to have appeared very early in their evolution. In fact, recent evidence of functional asymmetry in invertebrates suggests that even small brains benefit from the allocation of different functions to the left and right sides. This paper discusses the differing functions of the left and right sides of the brain, including the roles of the left and right antennae of bees (several species) in both short-and long-term recall of olfactory memories and in social behaviour. It considers the likely advantages of functional asymmetry in small and large brains and whether functional asymmetry in vertebrates and invertebrates is analogous or homologous. Neural or cognitive capacity can be enhanced both by the evolution of a larger brain and by lateralization of brain function: a possible reason why both processes occur side-by-side is offered.Keywords: brain asymmetry; invertebrates; vertebrates; evolution; memory; social interactions Asymmetry in the Brains of VertebratesDespite its superficial appearance of symmetry, the vertebrate brain is functionally asymmetrical, and there are structural asymmetries in its substructure (e.g., in neuronal connections and neurotransmitters). It has been long known that the left hemisphere of the human brain is specialized to produce speech and process language and that this asymmetry is manifested in structural asymmetry in the planum temporale region of the cortex [1,2]. However, over the last three to four decades, it has become clear that OPEN ACCESS

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Asymmetry in antennal contacts during trophallaxis in ants

Cited by 43 publications

References 23 publications

Carpenter ants use diverse antennae sampling strategies to track odor trails

Carpenter ants use diverse antennae sampling strategies to track odor trails

Miniaturisation decreases visual navigational competence in ants

When and Why Did Brains Break Symmetry?

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