Growth of populations and the fungus garden of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) response to foraged substrates

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dc.contributor.authorCamargo, Roberto S. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorForti, Luiz C. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorLopes, Juliane F. S.
dc.contributor.authorDe Matos, Carlos Alberto O. [UNESP]
dc.contributor.institutionUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
dc.contributor.institutionUniversidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-28T20:45:53Z
dc.date.available2022-04-28T20:45:53Z
dc.date.issued2008-11-19
dc.description.abstractThe leaf-cutting ants forage diverse plants for cultivation of symbiotic fungus, which is a primary food source for larvae in the colony. Previous studies have suggested that continuous offering of a single vegetal species affects the preference of workers and colonial performance (growth of the population and fungus garden). Given this situation, we evaluated the preference of workers and the performance of a colony of Atta sexdens rubropilosa after continuously offering the same plants for 2 months. The foraging behavior of workers exhibited a polyphagia typical of leaf-cutting ant species that collect all the vegetal species. The fungus gardens exhibited inequality in the production of staphylae, according to the substrate offered. This was directly reflected in population growth, queen weight and oviposition rate. We also noted that selection of plants is not correlated with the plant substrate that promotes good development of symbiotic fungus, but rather with the individual decisions taken by workers. Such results demonstrate the importance of plant diversity for fungus garden maintenance and subsequent population and fungus growth.en
dc.description.affiliationDepartamento de Produção Vegetal FCA/UNESP, Botucatu, SP
dc.description.affiliationComportamento e Biologia Animal Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG
dc.description.affiliationCampus Experimental de Itapeva/UNESP, Itapeva, SP
dc.description.affiliationUnespDepartamento de Produção Vegetal FCA/UNESP, Botucatu, SP
dc.description.affiliationUnespCampus Experimental de Itapeva/UNESP, Itapeva, SP
dc.format.extent633-643
dc.identifier.citationSociobiology, v. 52, n. 3, p. 633-643, 2008.
dc.identifier.issn0361-6525
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-56049091525
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11449/225336
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofSociobiology
dc.sourceScopus
dc.subjectAtta sexdens rubropilosa
dc.subjectLeaf-cutting ant
dc.subjectPlant selection
dc.subjectSymbiotic fungus
dc.titleGrowth of populations and the fungus garden of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) response to foraged substratesen
dc.typeArtigo
unesp.departmentProdução e Melhoramento Vegetal - FCApt

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Botucatu - FCA - Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas