HOST SPECIFICITY AND PROXIMATE MECHANISMS IN RAIDING BEHAVIOUR OF THE SLAVE-MAKING ANT POLYERGUS LUCIDUS (NEW YORK).
Item
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Title
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HOST SPECIFICITY AND PROXIMATE MECHANISMS IN RAIDING BEHAVIOUR OF THE SLAVE-MAKING ANT POLYERGUS LUCIDUS (NEW YORK).
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Identifier
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AAI8629697
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identifier
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8629697
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Creator
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GOODLOE, LINDA PIKE.
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Contributor
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Howard Topoff
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Date
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1986
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Psychobiology
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Abstract
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The slave-making ant Polyergus lucidus found in the pine barrens of Suffolk County, New York, enslaves ants of the subgenus Neoformica. Four species of Neoformica are present in this habitat although only one species of slave is found in any single P. lucidus nest. Experiments demonstrated that host species specificity is shown by both slave-raiders in their choice of slave species to raid, and by P. lucidus queens in their choice of species to invade in parasitic colony founding. In both instances, the host species chosen was the same as that found in the nest of origin. If similar specificity is shown by P. lucidus queens in their choice of males with which to mate, reproductive isolation exists and P. lucidus colonies using different species of slaves are in fact different species themselves. Imprinting is suggested as a mechanism by which such sympatric speciation could occur. Retrieval of pupae on a slave raid by P. lucidus workers was shown to be facilitated by the presence of alien slave species workers. Activity of the slave-makers, particularly scouting activity, was shown to be correlated with increased temperature. Laboratory manipulation of the potential cues of pupae, workers, and fresh empty nest showed that a scout's choice of a slave species nest to raid requires contact with alien slave species workers. Using the slave species Formica schaufussi, it was shown that well fed, free-living laboratory colonies easily accept alien conspecific pupae as their own, although they preferentially assist their own pupae to eclose. Slaves in P. lucidus colonies consumed significantly more alien slave species pupae than free-living slave species workers. Both enslaved and free-living slave workers consumed more allospecific Neoformica pupae than alien conspecific pupae.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
