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Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants (Atta) in Laboratory Conditions
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Diverse societies are more productive: a lesson from ants

Andreas P Modlmeier1, Julia E Liebmann, Susanne Foitzik

  • 1Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany. modlmeie@uni-mainz.de

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|January 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Animal personality research often overlooks social insects. This study reveals that greater behavioral variation within ant colonies (Temnothorax longispinosus) boosts productivity, highlighting the adaptive significance of collective personalities.

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