Description
For colonies of ponerine ant species, sterility regulation after a founding queen's death is not totally achieved in the worker caste, and the possibility of sexual reproduction is opened to workers. The persisting survival of these colonies is dependent on capturing the optimal reproductive ratio; yet, an informational gap bounds the mechanisms detailing the selection of new reproductives and the suppression of ovarian development in rejected reproductives. We investigated the mechanisms of worker policing, one of the primary methods of ovarian suppression, through continuous video observation for a period of five days at the start of colony instability. Observations suggest policing in H. saltator is performed by a majority of a colony, including potential reproductives, and requires multiple events to fully discourage ovarian growth.
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Details
Title
- Worker Policing Mechanisms in Ponerine Ant Species
Contributors
- Chien, Jeffrey (Co-author)
- Barat Ali, Fatima (Co-author)
- Kang, Yun (Thesis director)
- Liebig, Juergen (Committee member)
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor)
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
- Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2018-12
Resource Type
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