Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Altruism

Altruism

Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...

Symbiosis

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...

Conservation of Small Populations

Conservation of Small Populations

Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less likely to...

Inclusive Fitness

Inclusive Fitness

Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Ancient but dynamic: structural expansion, massive gene duplication, and transposable element colonization in a supergene controlling ant social organization.

Molecular biology and evolution·2026

Same author

The loss of a supergene in obligately polygynous Formica wood ant species.

Molecular biology and evolution·2025

Same author

Supergene regulation of ant social organization: a P haplotype in workers shifts colony ontogeny towards multiple queens.

Communications biology·2025

Same author

Adaptive radiation and social evolution of the ants.

Cell·2025

Same author

A supergene-controlling social structure in Alpine ants also affects the dispersal ability and fecundity of each sex.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2024

Same author

Evidence of phylosymbiosis in <i>Formica</i> ants.

Frontiers in microbiology·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

Social evolution: sick ants face death alone.

Michel Chapuisat¹

¹Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, Quartier Sorge, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Michel.Chapuisat@unil.ch <Michel.Chapuisat@unil.ch>

Current Biology : CB

|February 11, 2010

Summary

Moribund ants exhibit altruistic behavior by leaving their nests to die in isolation. This strategy effectively minimizes disease transmission risks to their colony members and relatives.

Area of Science:

Behavioral Ecology
Social Entomology
Disease Ecology

Background:

Social insects, such as ants, are known for their complex social structures and cooperative behaviors.
Altruism is a common trait in social insects, extending even to behaviors that benefit the colony at a personal cost.
Understanding disease transmission dynamics is crucial for the survival and stability of social insect colonies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dying behavior of social insects, specifically ants.
To determine if moribund ants exhibit specific behaviors to mitigate disease spread within the colony.
To assess the adaptive significance of disease avoidance strategies in social insect populations.

Main Methods:

Observational studies of ant colonies in natural and controlled environments.

More Related Videos

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants (Atta) in Laboratory Conditions

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants (Atta) in Laboratory Conditions

Published on: August 30, 2022

In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors

In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors

Published on: July 16, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants (Atta) in Laboratory Conditions

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants (Atta) in Laboratory Conditions

Published on: August 30, 2022

In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors

In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors

Published on: July 16, 2018

Tracking the location and behavior of individual ants nearing the end of their life cycle.

Analysis of disease transmission patterns in relation to the location of deceased individuals.

Main Results:

Moribund ants were observed to actively leave their nests and seek secluded locations for dying.
This behavior significantly reduced the proximity of deceased individuals to healthy nestmates.
The seclusion of dying ants was correlated with a lower incidence of disease transmission within the colony.

Conclusions:

Ants display a sophisticated, altruistic behavior by self-isolating when moribund to protect the colony.
This 'suicidal emigration' behavior is an effective strategy for preventing pathogen spread in social insect populations.
The findings highlight the evolutionary importance of disease management in maintaining social cohesion and colony survival.