Evolution of ant vibratory communication

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25304008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior
• Research Institution: Kyushu University (2014-2015); Hokkaido University of Education (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Takahiro 九州大学, 持続可能な社会のための決断科学センター, 准教授 (40374706)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HIGASHI Seigo 北海道大学, 名誉教授 (90133777)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SAKAMOTO Hironori 玉川大学, 脳科学研究所, 研究員 (70573624)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 音声コミュニケーション / SEM / 高精度小型録音装置 / 行動生態 / アリ類 / 菌食アリ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study we aim to illustrate an importance of vibrational communications in ants. Especially, leaf-cutting ants that is the most advanced species in fungus growing ants have evolved diverse vibrational communication system like "language system in human being". Furthermore, the frequencies of vibrational communication were gradual evolved among fungus growing ants including simple social structures and complex social structures. These data indicate that is related between ant social evolutions and vibrational communications. In the future, these accomplishments will apply any application area such as protection from harmful ant species.

Free Research Field

行動生態学、社会生物学、保全生態学