Forager size of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a mature eucalyptus forest in Brazil
Rev. biol. trop
; 48(4): 983-988, Dec. 2000.
Article
en En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-320108
Biblioteca responsable:
BR1.1
RESUMO
We determined the size characteristics of foragers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens in a mature eucalyptus forest in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, at daytime (730 to 1000 hr) and nighttime (1900 to 2300 hr). There were no significant differences between daytime and nighttime ant mass (Ma), but leaf fragment mass (Ml) and burden (B = [Ma + Ml]/Ma), which indicates relative load capacity, were significantly greater at daytime. There was a positive linear relationship between Ma and Ml for the combined daytime and nighttime data, and increases in Ma resulted in lower B. We compared A. sexdens characteristics with published results for Atta cephalotes, a closely related species. A. sexdens is larger and therefore able to carry heavier loads, but its burden is about 72 of the average value for A. cephalotes. We suggest that the lower load capacity of A. sexdens in comparison to A. cephalotes is related to its relatively larger size.
Texto completo:
1
Índice:
LILACS
Asunto principal:
Hormigas
/
Plantas Medicinales
/
Constitución Corporal
/
Hojas de la Planta
/
Eucalyptus
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rev. biol. trop
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA TROPICAL
Año:
2000
Tipo del documento:
Article