In Dueling Ants Vying to Become Queen, Behavioral and Molecular Cues Quickly Determine Who Will Win
Published:22 Feb.2021 Source:New York University
In one species of ants, workers duel to establish new leadership after the death of their queen. While these sparring matches stretch for more than a month, changes in behavior and gene expression in the first three days of dueling can accurately predict who will triumph, according to a New York University study published in the journal Genes & Development.
"Despite prolonged social upheaval in ant colonies following the loss of the queen, the winners of these dueling tournaments are rapidly determined," said Claude Desplan, Silver Professor of Biology at NYU. "Our findings may provide clues on adaptability in reproduction and aging, given that the workers who win the duel, or 'pseudoqueens,' gain the ability to lay eggs and live much longer than the average worker ant. This suggests that changes in the environment are able to dramatically affect the structure of a society."