Miniaturisation decreases visual navigational competence in ants

The Journal of Experimental Biology
Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi, Ajay Narendra

Abstract

Evolution of a smaller body size in a given lineage, called miniaturisation, is commonly observed in many animals including ants. It affects various morphological features and is hypothesised to result in inferior behavioural capabilities, possibly owing to smaller sensory organs. To test this hypothesis, we studied whether reduced spatial resolution of compound eyes influences obstacle detection or obstacle avoidance in five different species of ants. We trained all ant species to travel to a sugar feeder. During their return journeys, we placed an obstacle close to the nest entrance. We found that ants with higher spatial resolution exited the corridor - the area between the two ends of the obstacle - on average 10 cm earlier, suggesting they detected the obstacle earlier in their path. Ants with the lowest spatial resolution changed their viewing directions only when they were close to the obstacle. We discuss the effects of miniaturisation on visual navigational competence in ants.

References

Jan 1, 1989·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·J M de Souza, D F Ventura
Dec 28, 2002·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Paul GrahamThomas S Collett
Aug 27, 2003·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Johannes Spaethe, Lars Chittka
Dec 21, 2004·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory·Martin Kohler, Rüdiger Wehner
Dec 13, 2005·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Jochen Zeil, Jan M Hemmi
Dec 1, 1985·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·B J Cole
Apr 25, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dora BiroTim Guilford
Jun 15, 2007·The Journal of Experimental Biology·T S CollettR A Harris
Jul 5, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·William G Eberhard
Sep 24, 2008·Arthropod Structure & Development·R L RutowskiEric J Warrant
Nov 6, 2009·Current Biology : CB·Paul Graham, Ken Cheng
Nov 20, 2009·Current Biology : CB·Lars Chittka, Jeremy Niven
Jun 15, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Yoshichika BabaChristopher M Comer
Aug 17, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Laura DittmarMartin Egelhaaf
Oct 12, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ajay NarendraJochen Zeil
Nov 4, 2010·Arthropod Structure & Development·Sebastian SchwarzJochen Zeil
Aug 13, 2011·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Cornelia BühlmannRüdiger Wehner
Apr 10, 2012·Behavioural Brain Research·Elisa FrasnelliZhanna Reznikova
May 12, 2012·Current Biology : CB·Jeremy E Niven, Sarah M Farris
Jun 28, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ajay NarendraJochen Zeil
Nov 8, 2013·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Norasmah BasariNigel R Franks
Nov 21, 2013·PeerJ·Marcio R Pie, Marcel K Tschá
Jan 8, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Jochen ZeilWolfgang Stürzl
Aug 8, 2014·Arthropod Structure & Development·Fiorella Ramirez-EsquivelAjay Narendra
Oct 24, 2014·Annual Review of Entomology·Alexey A Polilov
Dec 3, 2014·Arthropod Structure & Development·Anastasia MakarovaStefan Fischer
Dec 30, 2014·Biology Letters·Edmund R HuntNigel R Franks
Apr 2, 2015·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Verena WahlMatthias Wittlinger
Mar 17, 2016·Biology Letters·Craig D Perl, Jeremy E Niven
Nov 4, 2016·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Helen F McCreeryRadhika Nagpal
Oct 7, 2017·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Ajay NarendraYuri Ogawa
Dec 14, 2017·Animal Cognition·Can KabadayiMathias Osvath
Dec 30, 2017·Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE·Fiorella Ramirez-EsquivelAjay Narendra

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 8, 2019·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Lana KhaldyMarie Dacke
Jun 9, 2020·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Sara ArgandaJames F A Traniello
May 30, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Ravindra Palavalli-NettimiAjay Narendra
Oct 18, 2020·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Glenna T CliftonNicholas Gravish
Feb 27, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Michael MeeceElke K Buschbeck
Nov 6, 2021·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·M Asmi JezeeraHema Somanathan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Journal of Experimental Biology
Kathrin SteckMarkus Knaden
Communicative & Integrative Biology
Sebastian Schwarz, Antoine Wystrach
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved