Foraging pattern, colony distribution, and foraging range of the Florida harvester ant Pogonomyrmex badius
This report describes the foraging pattern of the Florida harvester ant Pogonomyrmex badius in a high-density population of colonies. The foraging pattern has both promoted and been influenced by the colony distribution. Pogonomyrmex badius forages from short trails which extend into a surrounding foraging range. Direction of foraging trails is influenced by the location of a colony's near neighbors. Seasonal nest relocations always occur along a foraging trail, usually the main trail. Foraging ranges are not actively defended, but are used almost exclusively by foragers from a single colony. Foraging ranges will be extended into an area abondoned by neighboring foragers, indicating that forager presence may define each colony's range. Colony distribution has remained essentially the same for several years, despite seasonal nest relocations and addition of new colonies. Establishment of trails and exclusive foraging ranges by each colony minimizes encounters with neighboring foragers and guarantees access to available resources; this pattern also pomotes maintenance of the existing colony distribution and partitioning of resources.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY76-C-09-0189
- OSTI ID:
- 5675295
- Journal Information:
- Ecology; (United States), Vol. 62:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Optimal time--energy allocation and the evolution of colony demography among eusocial insects. [Polistes fuscatus, Vespa orientalis, ants]
Beyond thermal limits: comprehensive metrics of performance identify key axes of thermal adaptation in ants