Bearing selection in ball-rolling dung beetles: is it constant?

Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
Emily BairdMarie Dacke

Abstract

Ball rolling in dung beetles is thought to have evolved as a means to escape intense inter- and intra-specific competition at the dung pile. Accordingly, dung beetles typically roll along a straight-line path away from the pile, this being the most effective escape strategy for transporting dung to a suitable burial site. In this study, we investigate how individual diurnal dung beetles, Scarabaeus (Kheper) nigroaeneus, select the compass bearing of their straight-line rolls. In particular, we examine whether roll bearings are constant with respect to geographic cues, celestial cues, or other environmental cues (such as wind direction). Our results reveal that the roll bearings taken by individual beetles are not constant with respect to geographic or celestial references. Environmental cues appear to have some influence over bearing selection, although the relationship is not strong. Furthermore, the variance in roll bearing that we observe is not affected by the presence or absence of other beetles. Thus, rather than being constant for individual beetles, bearing selection varies each time a beetle makes a ball and rolls it away from the dung pile. This strategy allows beetles to make an efficient escape from the dung pile wh...Continue Reading

References

Mar 26, 2003·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Marie DackeClarke H Scholtz
May 3, 2003·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Marcus ByrneEric Warrant
Jul 4, 2003·Nature·Marie DackeEric J Warrant
Apr 23, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Marie DackeEric J Warrant
Nov 18, 2008·Current Biology : CB·Paolo DomeniciJonathan P Bacon

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Citations

Oct 19, 2012·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Marie DackeEmily Baird
Jan 27, 2012·PloS One·Emily BairdMarie Dacke
Jan 8, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·M DackeEmily Baird
May 18, 2016·Current Biology : CB·Basil El JundiEmily Baird
Apr 8, 2019·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Lana KhaldyMarie Dacke
Mar 30, 2018·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Timothy L WarrenMichael H Dickinson
Feb 8, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Basil El JundiMarie Dacke
Jun 27, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marie DackeBasil El Jundi
Aug 22, 2020·Annual Review of Entomology·Marie DackeMarcus Byrne
Apr 17, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Basil el JundiMarie Dacke
Jul 31, 2021·Current Biology : CB·James J FosterMarie Dacke

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