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A thermophile in the shade: light-directed nest relocation in the Costa Rican ant Ectatomma ruidum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2010

Terrence P. McGlynn ,
Toyin Dunn ,
Ellen Wayman  and
Andrea Romero
Terrence P. McGlynn*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez Hills, USA
Toyin Dunn
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez Hills, USA
Ellen Wayman
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez Hills, USA
Andrea Romero
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, USA
*
1Corresponding author: Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson, CA 90747USA. Email: [email protected]
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Extract

In tropical climates, nest movements by mature ant colonies are probably widespread but the phenomenon of nest relocation is poorly described (McGlynn 2007, McGlynn et al. 2004, Smallwood 1982a). For species that nest in soil, the costs and risks associated with excavating and establishing new nests are consequential, and it is assumed that relocation occurs when the costs are offset by a more advantageous nest location (Avargues-Weber & Monnin 2009, Banschbach & Herbers 1999). Nest movements may occur to areas with greater availability of food resources or to a more favourable microclimate. Here we provide the first report of nest relocation in one of the most widespread and well described ant species in the Neotropics, Ectatomma ruidum (Roger), and we perform a manipulative experiment to test whether food availability or light environment influence nest movement.

Keywords

antcompetitionCosta Ricaemigrationenergyfoodlightrelocationserial monodomytemperature
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , September 2010 , pp. 559 - 562
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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