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Ant semiochemicals limit apterous aphid dispersal.

Thomas H Oliver¹, Alla Mashanova, Simon R Leather

¹Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK. thomas.oliver04@imperial.ac.uk

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|October 11, 2007

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Ants use chemical signals to slow down aphid walking and reduce their dispersal. This manipulation benefits ants by increasing local aphid populations for honeydew, but its impact on aphids depends on their dispersal strategy.

Area of Science:

Chemical Ecology
Animal Behavior
Mutualism

Background:

Organisms can manipulate others' physiology or nervous systems for mutual benefit.
Ants influence aphid dispersal by removing wings and altering development, increasing local aphid density for honeydew.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of ant semiochemicals on the walking behavior and dispersal of apterous (wingless) mutualistic aphids.
To understand the adaptive significance of ant-induced changes in aphid dispersal for both species.

Main Methods:

Observed and measured the walking speed of aphids in the presence of ant semiochemicals.
Assessed the impact of ant chemicals on aphid dispersal from experimental patches.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Ant semiochemicals significantly reduce the walking speed of apterous aphids.
Aphid dispersal from unsuitable areas is hampered by the presence of ant chemicals.

Conclusions:

Ants chemically manipulate aphid movement, reducing their dispersal.
This manipulation may be adaptive for aphids if chemicals signal protection, but detrimental if dispersal is for competition avoidance or metapopulation maintenance.
Ant manipulation strategies may be more prevalent in mutualistic relationships than previously assumed.