Foraging ecology of polygyne red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) /
The nature and extent of interactions between polygynous red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta colonies have not been well understood and seldom measured. Three research objectives and a simulation model were developed to quantify the degree and extent of ant movement, foraging, and resource col...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2002.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=765106221&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | The nature and extent of interactions between polygynous red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta colonies have not been well understood and seldom measured. Three research objectives and a simulation model were developed to quantify the degree and extent of ant movement, foraging, and resource collection among polygyne colonies. The first objective quantified the internidal (between nest) movement of workers. Results show that internidal distance and mound volume estimates were significant predictors of internidal movements. Colonies did 'lose' some ants to other colonies, however most colonies had limited internidal interactions. The second objective quantified the patterns of food collection for three nutritionally important food types (carbohydrates, protein, and lipids) among neighboring colonies. Distance to food sources and food type were the most significant variables measured in determining the distribution of resources among colonies. Food type interacted significantly with life stage (worker or larvae) and the distance colonies harvested foods. The third objective quantified the foraging patterns and foraging overlap on individual baits of ants from several colonies. Most foraging occurred within 4 m of a colony. The presence of high numbers of ants on baits from a colony had a significant negative effect on the numbers of ants from neighboring colonies. A simulation model of colony foraging behavior was developed that simulates foraging distributions and food-harvesting. Model parameters included colony locations, colony biomass, distances to food, average colony spacing, and colony demand for certain foods. The first component consisted of a foraging model that was parameterized against empirical data. The number of correct model predictions depended on the location of foods and the number of observed ants on baits. The second component of the model, food harvesting, relied on parameters from the foraging component coupled with published data on daily energy requirements for colony maintenance and reproduction. Food harvesting simulations depict changes in colony foraging areas as a result of food harvesting under different resource distributions (e.g. regular, random, and clumped). Collectively these investigations demonstrate that polygyne S. invicta colonies are individual intraspecific competitors vying for resources for colony growth, with only limited worker and food interchange between colonies. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Entomology". |
| Physical Description: | x, 108 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-81). |