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Intraspecific aggression in the brown rover ant, Brachymyrmex obscurior

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Date Issued:
2008
Summary:
Invasive ant species often show unicoloniality, forming networks of connected colonies (i.e. supercolonies), which may extend hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. These "supercolonies" lack intraspecific aggression, thus fighting between colonies is absent. Unicoloniality may be an adaptive mechanism that allows for invasive ant species to reach higher population density and achieve ecological dominance. We used aggression assays to study unicoloniality within and between colonies of the invasive brown rover ant, Brachymyrmex obscurior on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Jupiter, FL. We found that the four B. obscurior colonies could be behaviorally divided into two areas: workers from both colonies in either region never showed intraspecific aggression while workers from colonies in opposing areas always showed intraspecific aggression, often fighting to the death. Thus, B. obscurior appears to show very localized unicoloniality, with neighboring colonies forming small supercolonies.
Title: Intraspecific aggression in the brown rover ant, Brachymyrmex obscurior.
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Name(s): Ruddock, Whitney A.
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Issuance: multipart monograph
Date Issued: 2008
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
electronic resource
Extent: vi, 8 leaves : ill. (some col.).
Language(s): English
Summary: Invasive ant species often show unicoloniality, forming networks of connected colonies (i.e. supercolonies), which may extend hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. These "supercolonies" lack intraspecific aggression, thus fighting between colonies is absent. Unicoloniality may be an adaptive mechanism that allows for invasive ant species to reach higher population density and achieve ecological dominance. We used aggression assays to study unicoloniality within and between colonies of the invasive brown rover ant, Brachymyrmex obscurior on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Jupiter, FL. We found that the four B. obscurior colonies could be behaviorally divided into two areas: workers from both colonies in either region never showed intraspecific aggression while workers from colonies in opposing areas always showed intraspecific aggression, often fighting to the death. Thus, B. obscurior appears to show very localized unicoloniality, with neighboring colonies forming small supercolonies.
Identifier: 281098421 (oclc), 77685 (digitool), FADT77685 (IID), fau:1505 (fedora)
Note(s): by Whitney A. Ruddock.
Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Honors College, 2008.
Bibliography: leaves 7-8.
Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, FL : 2008 Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject(s): Ants -- Behavior
Insect societies
Predation (Biology)
Held by: FBoU FAUER
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77685
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Host Institution: FAU

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