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opencc-zeroDec 2021View details →

Colony-level mechanisms of thermal tolerance regulation in the ant Ectatomma ruidum

1. Insects spend energy to function in high temperature environments, and because social insects employ a division of labor, it is likely that thermal tolerance varies among individuals in the colony, based on the tasks that they perform. 2. Foraging workers of the ant Neotropical ant Ectatomma ruidum are known to show temporal differences in thermal tolerance, with greater tolerance in hot afternoons, relative to cool mornings. 3. We developed three hypotheses that can account for temporal differences in thermal tolerance among workers: Thermal Acclimation, Division of Labor, and Circadian Rhythm. 4. We tested these hypotheses with a pair of experiments that involved the measurement of thermal persistence of ants at a constant temperature in time-to-failure assays. The first experiment compared ants with different behavioral roles in colonies, and the second compared colonies subjected to thermal manipulations, then iteratively sampled at daily thermal maxima and minima. 5. We found robust support for the Circadian Rhythm and Thermal Acclimation Hypotheses, and little support for the Division of Labor Hypothesis. Colonies of this species integrate multiple mechanisms of adapting to thermal challenges including time of day, ambient temperature, and the behavioral context of individual workers.

opencc-zeroFeb 2022View details →

Algal growth, bumblebee colony and individual development, bee behavior and yield of oilseed rape under a trophic cascade and extreme weather

Trophic cascades in the aquatic environment constitute important mechanisms for improving water quality. However, how the presence or non-presence of these trophic cascades may affect interactions across the aquatic-terrestrial interface remains poorly investigated. Pollinators such as bees may be especially vulnerable to changes in water resource quality induced by trophic cascades. Understanding how aquatic trophic cascades affect bees and pollination becomes even more pressing under ongoing climate change due to increased physiological demands for water under extreme weather events.In a novel field experiment combining terrestrial and aquatic mesocosms, we aimed to test how changes in water quality induced by an aquatic trophic cascade affected foraging and growth of bumblebee colonies as well as foraging of solitary bees. While we expected fish predation to reduce top-down control of zooplankton on phytoplankton and thereby, indirectly, induce increased growth of toxic cyanobacteria, we instead found the trophic cascade to induce the formation of algal surface mats that bumblebees used to access water under a severe heat wave and drought. This access to water was associated with higher bumblebee colony reproductive success, growth and weight compared to control colonies with no trophic cascade induced (and hence no algal surface mats). We also found marginal but non-significant effects on oilseed rape yield, but surprisingly with higher yields in the control treatment where bumblebees could not access water.Our results provide new insights on how aquatic trophic cascades can lead to unpredicted ecological interactions across the aquatic-terrestrial interface facilitated by climate change. Our study highlights the importance of water for the fitness of terrestrial ecosystem service providers under altered environmental conditions.

opencc-zeroMar 2022View details →

Using GBIF to Demonstrate Colonial Legacies on Biodiversity Data

Biologists recognize the Caribbean archipelago as a biodiversity hotspot and employ it for their research as a "natural laboratory", but do not always appreciate that these ecosystems are in fact palimpsests shaped by multiple human cultures over millennia. We discuss two case studies of the Caribbean's fragmented natural history collections, the effects of differing legislation and governance by the region's multiple nation states. We use digital natural history specimen data from GBIF to demonstrate how colonial history has influenced specimen collection patterns in Trinidad & Tobago, The Bahamas, and the Greater Antilles.

opencc-zeroApr 2022View details →

Effects of hive entrance orientation on honey bee colony activity

In an effort to determine the effects of the orientation of hive entrance on honey bee colony activity and temperature, hives were placed facing different cardinal directions (3-5 hives per direction). Hive weight was recorded every 5 minutes and temperature every 30 minutes from April 2019 to June 2020. Daily weight data were analyzed using piecewise regression. In southern Arizona from December to March, hives facing east started daily flight activity 50 minutes earlier than hives facing west, and ended flight activity 57 minutes earlier than hives facing south. During that period east-facing hives also lost only 62 g per d while north-facing hives lost about 100 g per d. East-facing hives were also about 7°C cooler on average than west-facing hives, although that may have been due to the movement of bee clusters within the hive. From December to March hives facing east also had significantly lower morning weight loss due to departing foragers than hives facing north (indicating more foragers) but higher weight loss from April-June 2020. Most effects were observed from December to March, probably due to restricted daylight hours and lower ambient temperatures. No significant effects were observed with respect to visually-estimated adult bee numbers (frames of bees) or the surface areas of sealed brood. We recommend hive orientation be taken into account in the design of field experiments that involve monitoring colony activity.

opencc-zeroApr 2022View details →

Overlooked costs of coloniality: Mislaid eggs and the double Incubation of separate nests

The evolution of colonial breeding remains an outstanding question in evolutionary biology, in part due to our limited understanding of the costs and benefits of group living. We document 85 cases of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica erythrogaster laying, and subsequently abandoning, eggs in empty, unclaimed nests located adjacent to active nests during a six-year study. The frequency of this behavior was positively correlated with total available nests, a metric that increases with colony size. In addition, two female swallows were observed alternately incubating multiple clutches after mislaying eggs in neighboring nests. We argue that the potential to mislay eggs and allocate parental care across separate nests may represent an overlooked cost of colonial nesting in birds.

opencc-zeroMay 2022View details →

Genetic diversity and lifespan of transplanted colonies

Selection may favour traits throughout an individuals lifetime or at a particular life stage. In many species of social insects, established colonies that are more genetically diverse outperform less diverse colonies with respect to a variety of traits that contribute to fitness, but whether selection favours high diversity in small colonies is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that selection favours genetically diverse colonies during the juvenile period using a multi-year field experiment with the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. We used controlled matings to generate colonies that varied in genetic diversity and transplanted them into the field. We monitored their survival for seven (the 2015 cohort, N = 149) and six (the 2016 cohort, N = 157) years. Genetically more diverse colonies had greater survival, resulting in significant viability selection. However, in both cohorts survival was not influenced by genetic diversity until colonies were three years old. We suggest that changes in their internal organization enabled colonies to use the benefits of multiple genotypes, and discuss possible mechanisms that can generate this pattern. The accompanying data give the number of patrilines, the date of transplant and the number of years that the colony survived.

opencc-zeroMay 2022View details →

Dataset to study the population genomics of introduced Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: repeated introductions since colonial times with multiple sources

During colonial times, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) was introduced in non-native parts of the Congo Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC) for the first time. Currently, it is the most farmed cichlid in the DRC, and is present throughout the Congo Basin. Although Nile tilapia has been reported as an invasive species, documentation of historical introductions into this basin and its consequences are scant. Here, we study the genetic consequences of these introductions by genotyping 213 Nile tilapia from native and introduced regions, focussing on the Congo Basin. Additionally, 48 specimens from 16 other tilapia species were included to test for hybridisation. Using RAD sequencing (27 611 SNPs), we discovered genetic admixture with other tilapia species in several morphologically identified Nile tilapia from the Congo Basin, stressing their ability to interbreed and the potential threat they cause to the genetic integrity of native tilapias. Populations from the Upper Congo and those from the Middle-Lower Congo are strongly differentiated. The former show genetic similarity with Nile tilapia from the White Nile, while specimens from the Benue Basin and Lake Kariba are similar to Nile tilapia from the Middle-Lower Congo, suggesting independent introductions using different sources. We conclude that the presence of Nile tilapia in the Congo Basin results from independent introductions, reflecting the dynamic aquaculture history, and that their introduction probably leads to genetic interactions with native tilapias, which could lower their fitness. We therefore urge to avoid introductions of Nile tilapia in non-native regions and to use native tilapias in future aquaculture efforts.

opencc-zeroJun 2022View details →

CV and colony data vespid mandible wear

Key structures of insects, such as their mandibles, become worn by the use and this leads to performance constraints, increase of metabolic costs, and decrease of individual' both lifespan and survival. Studying this phenomenon is interesting in species that build nests as it demands a significant amount of mandible labor; however, the effect of this selective factor is less obvious in species like social vespids that perform different tasks at different ages. By comparing mandible wear between individuals of different ages in 18 colonies of 13 species of neotropical social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae), we aimed to understand (1) the distribution of mandible wear across ages, and (2) the association between colony size and the coefficient of variation of mandible wear as an indicator of specialization. Despite a general positive trend between mandible wear and age, there are numerous exceptions and no age seems to concentrate this phenomenon. Mandible wear variation was evenly distributed throughout the worker ages, and was not correlated with colony size. Our study suggests that individuals distribute mandible demanding tasks throughout their life to reduce structural attrition which may improve worker's general output. We proposed that, to extend both life expectancy and general performance of the workers, wasps may spread the more demanding tasks over longer and less intense periods.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2022View details →

A real-time feedback system stabilises the regulation of worker reproduction under various colony sizes

Based on individual trait expression, an agent-based simulation was used to identify an explicit mechanism for understanding colony size dependent behaviour. This is the code for and data from the agent-based simulation

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2022View details →

Videos of nests of Harpagoxenus sublaevis and Leptothorax acervorum containing Leptothorax acervorum workers transferred as pupae into different social environments i.e. colonies

Ant collection and colony maintenance Colonies of the hosts Leptothorax acervorum and L. muscorum and the dulotic ant Harpagoxenus sublaevis were collected in July 2020 close to Nuremberg, Germany (49.345592, 11.258971 and 49.413857, 11.026181). At the University of Mainz, ants were transferred to plastered nest boxes containing artificial nest sites consisting of a Plexiglas cavity sandwiched between two microscope slides (7.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 0.5 cm) covered with a red foil and kept at 18°C with a 12:12 light: dark cycle. Ants were fed with crickets and honey every fourth day and provided with water ad libitum. Experimental manipulation For our experiment, we selected ten colonies of L. acervorum and five colonies each of L. muscorum and H. sublaevis. Colonies were assigned to one of five replicates, each replicate containing one colony for each of the four treatments. We prepared experimental colonies by standardizing colony size to one queen, 15 small larvae and 30 adult workers (15 inside + 15 outside workers). Adult workers were marked with a thin metal wire between thorax and abdomen (0.02 mm diameter, Elektrisola, red) to allow distinguishing them from our focal newly emerged workers. We removed 24 pupae from each L. acervorum colony, of which six were returned to the natal colony (referred to as “original” treatment), and six each were transferred into another L. acervorum colony (“conspecific” treatment), into an L. muscorum colony (“heterospecific” treatment) and a colony of H. sublaevis (“parasitic” treatment). For the parasitic treatment, we standardized the number of host workers to 60 as described above, but additionally added all H. sublaevis ants (18.4 ± 13.56 adult female individuals). Workers of these obligate social parasites do not take over worker chores, such as brood care and foraging, which are outsourced to host workers. Unfortunately, worker pupae from two of our replicates did not develop into adult workers in sufficient numbers, so that we focused our transcriptomic analyses on workers from the remaining three replicates. Moreover, all L. acervorum pupae transferred into L. muscorum colonies (“heterospecific” treatment) were either killed or expelled from the colony or did not emerge into workers (Survival: Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.05; Rejection (pupae outside the nest over the first three days): Kruskal-Wallis p < 0.001, Wilcoxon Heterospecific-Parasitic p = 0.016, Wilcoxon Heterospecific-Conspecific p = 0.012, Wilcoxon Heterospecific-Original p = 0.004) indicating that L. muscorum not only recognise L. acervorum pupae, but also eliminate them from their colonies. While we were unable to include this heterospecific treatment thus in our analyses, the number of transferred individuals still alive at the end of the experiment did not differ between the remaining treatments (Kruskal-Wallis: p = 0.34). Rejection was calculated as the number of pupae outside the nest over the first three days. Behavioural observations About 10 weeks (63-69 days) after the emergence of the first worker, colonies were transferred to 22°C and the red foil from their glass nest was removed to allow workers to adapt to light. The next day, the slide nest was transferred to a fluon-treated arena (3 cm x 7.5 cm) and each colony was filmed for 100 min in 4k using a SONY FDR-AX33 camera under a Leica KL1500 LED light.

opencc-by-nc-4.0Oct 2021View details →

Trophallaxis interactions of three honey bee colonies

This dataset consists of the trophallaxis interactions analyzed in [TODO]. Please see its README.txt file for a detailed description of the data, and the paper for information about how the data was generated.  Academic papers should cite the aforementioned publication. Otherwise, please cite this Zenodo record.

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2020View details →

Fig. 2 in PREVALENCE OF NOSEMA CERANAE (MICROSPORIDIA) IN THE APIS MELLIFERA MELLIFERA BEE COLONIES FROM LONG TIME ISOLATED APIARIES OF SIBERIA

Fig. 2. Distribution of Nosema species in apiaries throughout the Krasnoyarsk Krai (dots

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2019View details →

Fig. 3 in . Study of Nosema spp. in the Tomsk region, Siberia: co-infection is widespread in honeybee colonies

Fig. 3. Distribution of Nosema in bee colonies (Apis mellifera) throughout the Tomsk

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2019View details →

Fig. 1 in . Study of Nosema spp. in the Tomsk region, Siberia: co-infection is widespread in honeybee colonies

Fig. 1. Dynamics of infestation of bee colonies and apiaries with Nosema spp. in 2012–

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2019View details →

Fig. 4 in . Study of Nosema spp. in the Tomsk region, Siberia: co-infection is widespread in honeybee colonies

Fig. 4. Long-term dynamics of infestation of apiaries with different Nosema species in

Figure 9 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 9. Plumage development of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) chick from Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. (A) Camouflaged down plumage (Day 3); (B) appearance of dorsal pinfeathers and primaries (Day 7); (C) dorsal pinfeathers opened (Day 11); (D) primaries opened (Day 15); (E) completely developed immature plumage (Day 21). Photos: CO. BRA/INAU.

Figure 8 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 8. Mensural data of the single Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) chick surveyed in August-September 2015 that reached the fledging phase at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil (n = 1; accuracy = ± 0.01 cm). (A) Development of bill length (BL), bill width (BW), and tarsus length (TS) as a function of age (days). (B) Development of total body length (TL) and wing length (WL) as a function of age (days).

Figure 5 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 5. Developmental stages of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) clutch (nest 4S) at Praia doTotelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, from July to September 2015, with three fertilized eggs revealed by thermal imaging (right); with maximum (Max), minimum (Min), and mean temperature (Ds) inside the nest (white outline). Stages: (A) Day 8, (B) Day 14, and (C) Day 18 (two days before hatching). Note the well-camouflaged eggs inside the nest depression exhibiting some variation in shell pattern (left), with narrow corrugations caused by adults' bills when relocating the eggs. Photos by CO. BRA/INAU.

Figure 4 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 4. Mean surface temperatures (Te) of 25 eggs (n = 7 nests) of the Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, during incubation from July to September 2015; not all eggs reached hatching. Confidence intervals are indicated by bars; the regression line (dotted) represents a significant increase between Day 1 and hatching (R² = 0.098, p <0.01, LME).

Figure 3 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 3. Thermal images of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) nest (12N, white rectangles) at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, taken on the same day (6 September 2015) in the early (05:59 h, A) and late morning (11.45 h, B), showing the mean (Ds), minimum, and maximum nest temperature, surface ground temperature (crosses), and egg surface temperature (within rectangles). Scale on right: color scale associated with the respective temperatures. With a special optical filter water drops were visualized (Blue and red circles outside the nest and next to the three clutch contours) which were taken to the nest by both adults. Note in Fig. B the sand surface temperature of 53.7℃. Photos by CO.BRA/INAU.