Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants

Abstract Foraging rhythms in eusocial insects are determined by the colony´s overall pattern. However, in leaf-cutting ant workers, individual rhythms are not fully synchronized with the colonies’ rhythm. The colony as a whole is nocturnal, since most worker activity takes place at night; however so...

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Autores principales:	Pedro B. Constantino, Veronica S. Valentinuzzi, André F. Helene
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/4a113825737945729bf6452187e46a9d
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:4a113825737945729bf6452187e46a9d2021-12-02T16:45:47ZDivision of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants10.1038/s41598-021-88005-02045-2322https://doaj.org/article/4a113825737945729bf6452187e46a9d2021-04-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88005-0https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Foraging rhythms in eusocial insects are determined by the colony´s overall pattern. However, in leaf-cutting ant workers, individual rhythms are not fully synchronized with the colonies’ rhythm. The colony as a whole is nocturnal, since most worker activity takes place at night; however some workers forage during the day. Previous studies in individualized ants suggest nocturnal and diurnal workers coexistence. Here observations within the colony, in leaf-cutting ants, showed that workers have differential foraging time preference, which interestingly is associated to body size and differential leaf transportation engagement. Nocturnal ants are smaller and less engaged in leaf transportation whereas diurnal ants are bigger and more engaged in leaf carriage. Mechanisms underlying division of labor in work shifts in ants are still unknown but much can be extrapolated from honeybees; another social system bearing a similar pattern. A collective organization like this favors constant exploitation of food sources while preserving natural individual rhythm patterns, which arise from individual differences, and thermal tolerance, given by the size polymorphism presented by this species.Pedro B. ConstantinoVeronica S. ValentinuzziAndré F. HeleneNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Pedro B. Constantino Veronica S. Valentinuzzi André F. Helene Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
description	Abstract Foraging rhythms in eusocial insects are determined by the colony´s overall pattern. However, in leaf-cutting ant workers, individual rhythms are not fully synchronized with the colonies’ rhythm. The colony as a whole is nocturnal, since most worker activity takes place at night; however some workers forage during the day. Previous studies in individualized ants suggest nocturnal and diurnal workers coexistence. Here observations within the colony, in leaf-cutting ants, showed that workers have differential foraging time preference, which interestingly is associated to body size and differential leaf transportation engagement. Nocturnal ants are smaller and less engaged in leaf transportation whereas diurnal ants are bigger and more engaged in leaf carriage. Mechanisms underlying division of labor in work shifts in ants are still unknown but much can be extrapolated from honeybees; another social system bearing a similar pattern. A collective organization like this favors constant exploitation of food sources while preserving natural individual rhythm patterns, which arise from individual differences, and thermal tolerance, given by the size polymorphism presented by this species.
format	article
author	Pedro B. Constantino Veronica S. Valentinuzzi André F. Helene
author_facet	Pedro B. Constantino Veronica S. Valentinuzzi André F. Helene
author_sort	Pedro B. Constantino
title	Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
title_short	Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
title_full	Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
title_fullStr	Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
title_full_unstemmed	Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
title_sort	division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/4a113825737945729bf6452187e46a9d
work_keys_str_mv	AT pedrobconstantino divisionoflaborinworkshiftsbyleafcuttingants AT veronicasvalentinuzzi divisionoflaborinworkshiftsbyleafcuttingants AT andrefhelene divisionoflaborinworkshiftsbyleafcuttingants
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Division of labor in work shifts by leaf-cutting ants

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