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Geometry explains the benefits of division of labour in a leafcutter ant
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 07:29 authored by Heikki Helanterä, Francis RatnieksMany ant species have morphologically distinct worker sub-castes. This presumably increases colony efficiency and is thought to be optimized by natural selection. Optimality arguments are, however, often lacking in detail. In ants, the benefits of having workers in a range of sizes have rarely been explained mechanistically. In Atta leafcutter ants, large workers specialize in defence and also cut fruit. Fruit is soft and can be cut by smaller workers. Why, therefore, are large workers involved? According to the geometry hypothesis, cutting large pieces from three-dimensional objects like fruit is enhanced by longer mandibles. By contrast, long mandibles are not needed to cut leaves that are effectively two-dimensional. Our results from Atta laevigata support three predictions from the geometry hypothesis. First, larger workers cut larger fruit pieces. Second, the effect of large size is greater in cutting fruit than leaves. Third, the size of fruit pieces cut increases approximately in proportion to the cube of mandible length. Our results are a novel mechanistic example of how size variation among worker ants enhances division of labour.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal SocietyISSN
1471-2954External DOI
Issue
1640Volume
275Page range
1255-1260Pages
6.0Department affiliated with
- Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications
Notes
Issue: 1640Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-06Usage metrics
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