The role of visual cues in directed aerial descent of Cephalotes atratus workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The Journal of Experimental Biology
S P Yanoviak, R Dudley

Abstract

Animals often depend on properties of reflected light (e.g. color, brightness) to locate resources. We compared reflectance properties of tree trunks with surrounding vegetation, and examined how differences in reflectance profiles of surrogate tree trunks (red, yellow, green, blue, black, gray, dark gray and white sheets) affected the directed aerial descent of worker Cephalotes atratus (L.) ants. Across the visual spectrum, tree trunk reflectance was 2-10 times higher than the surrounding foliage and differed among trees. In two separate experiments, one with colored sheets and one with black, white and gray sheets, nearly half (42% and 47%, respectively) of falling ants directed their descent to a bright white sheet when given a choice of target colors or shades of gray. When colored and gray sheets were presented individually, landing frequencies were lower than expected for all except white sheets. Glide performance was highly variable, but there was a tendency for higher glide indices to be associated with the white sheet relative to the green sheet. We conclude that visually mediated aerial behavior in falling canopy ants is strongly influenced by reflectance properties of the target object, specifically brightness, and ...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 2002·Nature·Almut KelberEric J Warrant
Feb 11, 2005·Nature·Stephen P YanoviakMichael Kaspari
Apr 12, 1985·Science·K Fent, R Wehner
Jan 1, 1984·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Brenda B Casper, Timothy R La Pine

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 1, 2009·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Timothy J BradleySteve P Yanoviak
May 12, 2011·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Robert Dudley, Stephen P Yanoviak
May 13, 2011·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Stephen P YanoviakRobert Dudley
Mar 28, 2009·Biology Letters·Stephen P YanoviakRobert Dudley
Mar 20, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Stephen P YanoviakRobert Dudley
Feb 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·S P YanoviakG Poinar
Sep 17, 2014·The American Naturalist·Scott PowellCarlos Roberto F Brandão
Aug 21, 2015·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Stephen P YanoviakRobert Dudley
Mar 27, 2015·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·A VidyasagarM Kovač
Feb 20, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Pranav C Khandelwal, Tyson L Hedrick
Oct 19, 2017·Journal of Thermal Biology·Alyssa Y StarkStephen P Yanoviak
Jun 13, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·S P Yanoviak, D N Frederick
May 31, 2015·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Yu ZengRobert Dudley
Mar 20, 2015·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Yonatan MunkRobert Dudley
Nov 2, 2020·Journal of Invertebrate Pathology·Natalie ImirzianDavid P Hughes

❮ 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.