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Learning Distinct Chemical Labels of Nestmates in Ants
Stefanie Neupert1, Manuel Hornung1, Jocelyn Grenwille Millar2
1Department of Neurobiology/Zoology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|September 14, 2018
Summary
Ants use multiple recognition templates to identify nestmates based on chemical cues (cuticular hydrocarbons). This study shows ants learn new colony odor profiles and can distinguish between subtle differences in chemical labels, impacting colony coherence.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Chemical Ecology
- Insect Social Behavior
Background:
- Colony coherence in eusocial insects relies on nestmate recognition.
- Ants use cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) as chemical labels for nestmate recognition.
- Prevailing theories suggest ants match colony odor profiles to a single neural template.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether ants learn colony odor profiles independently or rely on commonalities.
- To test if ants possess multiple recognition templates for nestmates with distinct CHC profiles.
- To understand the flexibility of nestmate recognition in ants.
Main Methods:
- Manipulation of sub-colony CHC profiles by adding novel hydrocarbons in Camponotus floridanus ants.
- One-on-one encounters to test aggressive responses between workers with original and manipulated CHC profiles.
- Analysis of behavioral adjustments in nestmate recognition based on learned CHC profiles.
Main Results:
- Ant workers adjust nestmate recognition by learning novel CHC profiles.
- Workers accepted individuals with the original CHC profile even after learning manipulated profiles.
- Aggression was observed towards workers with partially altered CHC profiles, indicating discrimination.
- Both the addition and absence of CHC components altered nestmate recognition.
Conclusions:
- Ant nestmate recognition is a multiple-template process, not a single widening acceptance range.
- Ants can discriminate between nestmates with distinct CHC labels, suggesting a partitioned olfactory system.
- Individual experience and task-associated CHC differences are crucial for colony organization and coherence.
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