Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina

The simultaneous study of the temporal dynamics of foraging behaviour, diet and seed abundance is essential to assess the way in which resources affect the behaviour and ecology of harvester ants. Here, we evaluate how fluctuations in grass seed abundance during three consecutive growing seasons inf...

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Autores principales:	Pol, R.G., Lopez De Casenave, J., Pirk, G.I.
Formato:	JOUR
Materias:	Foraging behaviour Harvester ant Monte desert Pogonomyrmex Seed availability abundance ant behavioral response colony diet foraging behavior generalist grass growing season numerical response plant-insect interaction seasonality seed spatiotemporal analysis temporal variation Argentina Mendoza Monte Desert Formicidae Poaceae Pogonomyrmex inermis Pogonomyrmex rastratus
Acceso en línea:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_14429985_v36_n3_p320_Pol
Aporte de:	Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires

id	todo:paper_14429985_v36_n3_p320_Pol
record_format	dspace
spelling	todo:paper_14429985_v36_n3_p320_Pol2023-10-03T16:16:24Z Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina Pol, R.G. Lopez De Casenave, J. Pirk, G.I. Foraging behaviour Harvester ant Monte desert Pogonomyrmex Seed availability abundance ant behavioral response colony diet foraging behavior generalist grass growing season numerical response plant-insect interaction seasonality seed spatiotemporal analysis temporal variation Argentina Mendoza Monte Desert Formicidae Poaceae Pogonomyrmex Pogonomyrmex inermis Pogonomyrmex rastratus The simultaneous study of the temporal dynamics of foraging behaviour, diet and seed abundance is essential to assess the way in which resources affect the behaviour and ecology of harvester ants. Here, we evaluate how fluctuations in grass seed abundance during three consecutive growing seasons influenced the foraging behaviour and diet of the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus, P. mendozanus and P. inermis in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Seed abundance of the most consumed grasses varied greatly through ant activity season, and ants altered their foraging behaviour in response to those changes. Foragers spent more time travelling and searching for food, and their foraging trips took longer during the low seed availability season. Foraging distance was very similar among species and, contrary to our expectations, did not vary between seasons. Foraging success of P. rastratus and P. inermis increased during the high availability season. This matched the seasonal pattern of foraging activity, suggesting that colonies may detect seed abundance and regulate their foraging effort with the rate of forager success. Although grass seeds were the main item in the diet of the three species, P. mendozanus, and to a lesser extent P. rastratus, turned more generalist when grass seeds were scarce. In contrast, P. inermis showed a very narrow diet breadth, only harvesting grass seeds in both seasons. Our results indicate the relevance of seed availability on foraging behaviour of harvester ants, which should be taken into account when predicting and evaluating the effect of ants on seed resources as well as numerical responses of harvester ant populations to the temporal and spatial variations in grass seed abundance. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Ecological Society of Australia. Fil:Lopez De Casenave, J. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Pirk, G.I. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. JOUR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_14429985_v36_n3_p320_Pol
institution	Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str	I-28
repository_str	R-134
collection	Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic	Foraging behaviour Harvester ant Monte desert Pogonomyrmex Seed availability abundance ant behavioral response colony diet foraging behavior generalist grass growing season numerical response plant-insect interaction seasonality seed spatiotemporal analysis temporal variation Argentina Mendoza Monte Desert Formicidae Poaceae Pogonomyrmex Pogonomyrmex inermis Pogonomyrmex rastratus
spellingShingle	Foraging behaviour Harvester ant Monte desert Pogonomyrmex Seed availability abundance ant behavioral response colony diet foraging behavior generalist grass growing season numerical response plant-insect interaction seasonality seed spatiotemporal analysis temporal variation Argentina Mendoza Monte Desert Formicidae Poaceae Pogonomyrmex Pogonomyrmex inermis Pogonomyrmex rastratus Pol, R.G. Lopez De Casenave, J. Pirk, G.I. Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
topic_facet	Foraging behaviour Harvester ant Monte desert Pogonomyrmex Seed availability abundance ant behavioral response colony diet foraging behavior generalist grass growing season numerical response plant-insect interaction seasonality seed spatiotemporal analysis temporal variation Argentina Mendoza Monte Desert Formicidae Poaceae Pogonomyrmex Pogonomyrmex inermis Pogonomyrmex rastratus
description	The simultaneous study of the temporal dynamics of foraging behaviour, diet and seed abundance is essential to assess the way in which resources affect the behaviour and ecology of harvester ants. Here, we evaluate how fluctuations in grass seed abundance during three consecutive growing seasons influenced the foraging behaviour and diet of the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus, P. mendozanus and P. inermis in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Seed abundance of the most consumed grasses varied greatly through ant activity season, and ants altered their foraging behaviour in response to those changes. Foragers spent more time travelling and searching for food, and their foraging trips took longer during the low seed availability season. Foraging distance was very similar among species and, contrary to our expectations, did not vary between seasons. Foraging success of P. rastratus and P. inermis increased during the high availability season. This matched the seasonal pattern of foraging activity, suggesting that colonies may detect seed abundance and regulate their foraging effort with the rate of forager success. Although grass seeds were the main item in the diet of the three species, P. mendozanus, and to a lesser extent P. rastratus, turned more generalist when grass seeds were scarce. In contrast, P. inermis showed a very narrow diet breadth, only harvesting grass seeds in both seasons. Our results indicate the relevance of seed availability on foraging behaviour of harvester ants, which should be taken into account when predicting and evaluating the effect of ants on seed resources as well as numerical responses of harvester ant populations to the temporal and spatial variations in grass seed abundance. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Ecological Society of Australia.
format	JOUR
author	Pol, R.G. Lopez De Casenave, J. Pirk, G.I.
author_facet	Pol, R.G. Lopez De Casenave, J. Pirk, G.I.
author_sort	Pol, R.G.
title	Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
title_short	Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
title_full	Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
title_fullStr	Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
title_full_unstemmed	Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
title_sort	influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central monte desert, argentina
url	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_14429985_v36_n3_p320_Pol
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Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina

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