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Field study on foraging by the polymorphic ant species,Pheidole pallidula

Etude de la récolte de nourriture par la fourmi polymorphePheidole pallidula dans son milieu naturel

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Summary

The dimorphic ant specicsP. pallidula is widespread in all Mediterranean countries and was the dominant species in our study area. Demographic data such as relative abundance, density, spatial distribution were collected and quantitative observations ofP. pallidula behaviour were made at the time of food exploitation. This allowed us to discern the relations, particularly competitives ones, between their workers and other sympatric ant species (Aphaenogaster senilis, Crematogaster sordidula, Messor barbara, Plagiolepis pygmaea). The ecological success ofP. pallidula seems to depend on 3 main characteristics of its ethology:

  1. 1o)

    its foraging activity both diurnal and nocturnal,

  2. 2o)

    the diversity of its foraging techniques (individual and collective retrievals by minor foragers; short and long lasting foraging trails).

  3. 3o)

    the active participation of majors in intense exploitation of large unretrievable food sources where they could be very efficient to protect food sources from competitors and/or to cut preys' sclcrites. These majors are mainly present on food sources and on trails, exploration of the foraging area being ensured by the minor caste. The adaptive significance of caste polyethism ofP. pallidula species during food exploitation is discussed according to our field data.

Resume

L'espèce à caste neutre dimorphiqueP. pallidula largement répandue dans toute la région méditerranéenne est nettement dominante dans notre site d'étude. Des données démographiques (abondance relative, densité et distribution spatiale) ainsi que des observations quantifiées des comportements deP. pallidula lors de la récolte de nourriture permettent de cerner ses relations, notamment de compétition, avec d'autres fourmis sympatriques (Aphaenogaser senilis, Crematogaster sordidula, Messor barbara, Plagiolepis pygmaea). Le succès écologique deP. pallidula semble tenir à trois caractéristiques éthologiques:

  1. 1o)

    son activité de récolte à la fois diurne et nocturne,

  2. 2o)

    la diversité de ses techniques de récolte (récolte individuelle et collective de nourriture par les minors de la société, pistes alimentaires de courte et de longue durée).

  3. 3o)

    la participation active d'une caste neutre de majors à l'exploitation intense de larges sources de nourriture, susceptibles d'assurer la protection efficace de ces sources contre des espèces compétitrices et/ou la découpe des proies. Sur l'aire de récolte, ces majors sont toujours présentes aux sources de nourriture et sur les pistes alimentaires, l'exploration du territoire étant essentiellement dévolue à la caste minor. La signification adaptative du polyéthisme de castes deP. pallidula lors de la récolte est discutée sur base de nos résultats.

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  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Animale et Cellulaire (C.P. 160), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, 1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    C. Detrain

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Detrain, C. Field study on foraging by the polymorphic ant species,Pheidole pallidula . Ins. Soc 37, 315–332 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225995

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02225995

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