Homing abilities of the Australian intertidal ant, Polyrhachis sokolova

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.089649
• Publication Date: 2013-06-21T04:56:45Z
• Authors: Ajay Narendra; Chloe Raderschall; Simon Robson
• Keywords: Landmark; Path integration; Homing (biology); Panorama

Summary The pressure of returning and locating the nest after a successful foraging trip is immense in ants. To find their way back home, ants use number different strategies (e.g., path integration, trail-following) rely on range cues pattern polarised skylight, landmark panorama) available environment. How weigh has been question great interest primarily addressed desert from Africa Australia. We here identify navigational abilities an intertidal ant, Polyrhachis sokolova that lives mudflats where nests areas are frequently inundated with tidal water. these solitary heavily visual information for navigation but they also capable integration. By displacing without vector at locations within local familiar territory we created conflicts between landmarks integrator. homing success full-vector ants, compared to zero-vector when displaced 5 m behind feeder indicate had be coupled homing. explain differences determined content each release station it location. report interaction multiple context