| Reconnaissance and latent learning in ants. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17426016 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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We show that ants can reconnoitre their surroundings and in effect plan for the future. Temnothorax albipennis colonies use a sophisticated strategy to select a new nest when the need arises. Initially, we presented colonies with a new nest of lower quality than their current one that they could explore for one week without a need to emigrate. We then introduced a second identical low quality new nest and destroyed their old nest so that they had to emigrate. Colonies showed a highly significant preference for the (low quality) novel new nest over the identical but familiar one. In otherwise identical experiments, colonies showed no such discrimination when the choice was between a familiar and an unfamiliar high-quality nest. When, however, either all possible pheromone marks were removed, or landmarks were re-orientated, just before the emigration, the ants chose between identical low-quality new nests at random. These results demonstrate for the first time that ants are capable of assessing and retaining information about the quality of potential new nest sites, probably by using both pheromones and landmark cues, even though this information may only be of strategic value to the colony in the future. They seem capable, therefore, of latent learning and, more explicitly, learning what not to do. |
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Authors:
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Nigel R Franks; James W Hooper; Anna Dornhaus; Philippa J Aukett; Alexander L Hayward; Stefanie M Berghoff |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: 274 ISSN: 0962-8452 ISO Abbreviation: Proc. Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2007 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-05-01 Completed Date: 2008-01-08 Revised Date: 2009-11-18 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1505-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK. nigel.franks@bristol.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Ants / physiology* Choice Behavior / physiology Cues* Exploratory Behavior / physiology* Learning / physiology* Nesting Behavior / physiology* Orientation / physiology* Pheromones / physiology Spatial Behavior / physiology* Time Factors |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Pheromones |
| Comments/Corrections | |
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