The mandibular gland secretions of the leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens sexdens and Atta opaciceps exhibit intercaste and intercolony variations
| Autor: | R. R. Do Nascimento, A. L. Mendonça, Antônio Euzébio Goulart Santana, M. R. Francelino |
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| Rok vydání: | 2005 |
| Předmět: |
Alarm response
Myrmicinae Behavior Animal Ants Submandibular Gland General Medicine Hymenoptera Biology biology.organism_classification Biochemistry Intraspecific competition Mass Spectrometry Atta opaciceps Plant Leaves Aculeata Atta sexdens Botany Oils Volatile Pheromone Animals Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | Journal of chemical ecology. 32(3) |
| ISSN: | 0098-0331 |
| Popis: | The mandibular gland secretions of worker castes from wild colonies of the leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens sexdens and Atta opaciceps were analyzed quantitatively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The secretions comprised a complex mixture of volatile, mainly oxygenated compounds, and their profiles exhibited considerable qualitative and quantitative variations among species and castes. The known alarm pheromone 4-methyl-3-heptanone was common to both species. The elevated relative proportions of this ketone found in the secretions of gardeners and generalists suggest that such castes are primarily responsible for the production and release of the alarm pheromone. Quantitative variations (but no qualitative differences) in the profiles of secretions of soldiers from different colonies of A. sexdens sexdens were detected, supporting the view that intraspecific colony recognition is mediated through mandibular gland secretions. Subsequent laboratory assays showed that, among the compounds identified by GC-MS, 4-methyl-3-heptanone elicited a strong alarm response in workers of A. sexdens sexdens and A. opaciceps. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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