Authors: Cole, Blaine J.; Edwards, Rebecca; Holbrook, Carter Tate; Holm, Lindsey; Heyward, Joslin; Wiernasz, Diane C.

Source: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 101, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 272-276(5)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

Foraging behavior has been extensively studied in harvester ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); however, there is little information about the determinants of foraging success. We developed a path analysis model to quantify the functional relationships among the components of foraging at the colony level (onset, duration, number of foragers) and foraging success. Variation in the onset of foraging among colonies directly influences the amount of time a colony has available for foraging, and contributes substantially to the total biomass of food retrieved. This difference in foraging effort provides a causal explanation for previously observed differences in colony growth rates.

Keywords: Pogonomyrmex occidentalis; foraging; foraging effort; foraging success; activity

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2008-01-01

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• Annals of the Entomological Society of America is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Annals especially invites submission of manuscripts that integrate different areas of insect biology, and address issues that are likely to be of broad relevance to entomologists. Articles also report on basic aspects of the biology of arthropods, divided into categories by subject matter: systematics; ecology and population biology; arthropod biology; arthropods in relation to plant diseases; conservation biology and biodiversity; physiology, biochemistry, and toxicology; morphology, histology, and fine structure; genetics; and behavior.
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