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Use of Seeds as Fungus Garden Substrate Changes the Organization of Labor Among Leaf-Cutting Ant Workers

dc.contributor.authorHastenreiter, I. N.
dc.contributor.authorSales, T. A.
dc.contributor.authorCamargo, R. S. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorForti, L. C. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorLopes, J. F.S.
dc.contributor.institutionMirmecoLab, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal de Juiz de Fora
dc.contributor.institutionUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-11T16:57:54Z
dc.date.available2018-12-11T16:57:54Z
dc.date.issued2015-08-24
dc.description.abstractSeeds of different plant species constitute an alternative but also significant substrate that leaf-cutting ants use to cultivate their fungus garden. However, how they are processed inside the nest and if their use implies differential allocation of worker size classes are still poorly known. Using laboratory colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus (Forel) as a model, the behaviors related to the processing of three different seeds (sesame, guava, and grape) as fungus substrate were listed. At the same time, we measured how each worker size class contributed to the execution of these behaviors by registering their respective frequency. It was found that medium-sized (1.2 > head width < 1.6 mm) and minimum-sized (head width <1.1 mm) workers assumed the role of incorporation for sesame and grape seeds, respectively. Major-sized workers (head width >1.7 mm) were concentrated on licking and holding guava seeds. Tegument removal was the only task observed that differs between treatment of seeds and treatment of leaves before their incorporation, as described in the literature. It was verified that different species of seeds imply a differential allocation of worker size classes and the inclusion or exclusion of some tasks from the behavioral repertoire. Regardless of the substrate type, leaf-cutting ant workers follow a coordinated and specialized procedure to cultivate the fungus garden but always maintain a high degree of cooperation.en
dc.description.affiliationMirmecoLab, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal de Juiz de Fora
dc.description.affiliationLab de Insetos Sociais-Praga, Depto de Produção Vegetal, Fac de Ciências Agronômicas, UNESP
dc.description.affiliationUnespLab de Insetos Sociais-Praga, Depto de Produção Vegetal, Fac de Ciências Agronômicas, UNESP
dc.format.extent351-356
dc.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13744-015-0299-0
dc.identifier.citationNeotropical Entomology, v. 44, n. 4, p. 351-356, 2015.
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s13744-015-0299-0
dc.identifier.issn1678-8052
dc.identifier.issn1519-566X
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-84937786056
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11449/171955
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofNeotropical Entomology
dc.relation.ispartofsjr0,437
dc.rights.accessRightsAcesso restrito
dc.sourceScopus
dc.subjectAcromyrmex
dc.subjectsubstrate processing
dc.subjecttask allocation
dc.subjectworker castes
dc.titleUse of Seeds as Fungus Garden Substrate Changes the Organization of Labor Among Leaf-Cutting Ant Workersen
dc.typeArtigo
dspace.entity.typePublication
unesp.departmentProdução e Melhoramento Vegetal - FCApt

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