Modeling temperature-mediated fluctuation in colony size in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta

Journal of Theoretical Biology
Erika Asano, Deby L Cassill

Abstract

In the social insects, colony size is central to the survival of the queen. Two endogenous factors, worker longevity and queen's daily egg production, are known to determine maximum colony size. A third endogenous factor, duration of worker development from egg to adult, regulates the rate of colony growth. In this paper, we report findings from a simulation quantifying the effects of temperature on colony size in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. The monthly average temperature over a six year period for the panhandle of north Florida was interpolated to determine the effects of daily temperature on a queen's egg production, worker developmental time and worker longevity. Additional daily temperatures were simulated: 7°C higher and 7°C lower than daily temperatures for north Florida. As expected, colony size was the largest when annual temperatures were the highest across seasons, ranging from 57,000 to 187,000. Colony size at intermediate daily temperatures ranged from 14,000 to 103,000; small colonies recovered rapidly as temperatures warmed. Colony size at lower daily temperatures ranged from 14,000 to 21,000. Extended worker longevity at lower temperatures compensated for low egg production and longer developmental time. A...Continue Reading

References

Nov 25, 1998·Journal of Theoretical Biology·D L CassillR G Buck
May 10, 2000·Journal of Insect Physiology·D L Cassill, W R Tschinkel
Oct 25, 2003·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Diane C Wiernasz, Blaine J Cole
Nov 7, 2003·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Kevin L Haight, Walter R Tschinkel
Apr 27, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Nathan J MlotDavid L Hu

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