Differences in behavioral traits among supercolonies of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25440246
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Inoue Maki 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 講師 (80512590)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ITO Fuminori 香川大学, 農学部, 教授 (50260683)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 外来種

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the behavioral traits among the four supercolonies introduced into Japan. Each L. humile supercolony demonstrated different behavioral traits: JM and KB exhibited strong aggressiveness toward a foreign worker, whereas KC avoided a foreign worker but exhibited more foraging activity than the others. The KA supercolony infrequently attacked a foreign worker and explored food.
We analyzed mitochondrial DNA of L. humile workers from native Argentina populations. Sequencing revealed the six clades: the first clade included JM, KB, and the populations collected across Argentina; second, KC, the eastern region and Sndes region; third, only the eastern region; fourth, Tokyo colony. Geographically genetic structure was not detected and thus the species have been expanding associated with the development of the trade along Palana River and railways.

Free Research Field

進化生態学