Abstract:

Ants, Crematagaster spp were collected from Barataria Bay in 2012 and 2013. Experiments were developed in the lab to study ant behavior. Ants were exposed to pure, undiluted Macondo oil either surrounding their nest, surrounding the food or simply present. Colonies were observed for 24hrs, and counts were taken on foraging behaviors of ants.

Suggested Citation:

Linda Hooper-Bui. 2015. Ant Behavior, Activity and Foraging Lab Experiment. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7H12ZXV

Purpose:

The dataset was developed to study ant behavior in the laboratory when the ants were in the presence of oil.

Data Parameters and Units:

*Food and water consisted of one culture tube with 20% sugar water solution and one piece of Fluker’s Cricket Quencher about 1cm3. The food and water dummy was one empty culture tube and one rock about 1cm3 § Trial 1 = Control 1, One cohort of ants and food/water on opposite sides of the dish § Trial 2 = Control 2, One cohort of ants and the food/water dummy on opposite sides of the dish § Trial 3 = One cohort of ants and food/water on opposite sides of the dish with oil surrounding the food/water § Trial 4 =One cohort of ants and the food/water dummy on opposite sides of the dish with oil surrounding the dummy § Trial 5 =One cohort of ants and food/water on opposite sides of the dish with oil present but not around the food/water § Trial 6 =One cohort of ants and food/water on opposite sides of the dish with oil surrounding the cohort § Trial 7 = One cohort of ants and the food/water dummy on opposite sides of the dish with oil surrounding the cohort o Rep = replicate number o Total = total number of ants in replicate o Active = number of individuals actively foraging over 24 hour period *Twelve observations of foraging behavior were recorded during the first 24 hours after the addition of food, water, and oil to each replicate. Observations were made at 10min, 20min, 30min, 1h, 1.5hrs, 2hrs, 2.5hrs, 3hrs, 4.5hrs, 6hrs, 7.5hrs, and 24hrs o Time = 12 observation periods during 24 hour period. o Percent = percent of total individuals actively foraging over 24 hour period o Mean = average number of individuals actively foraging over 24 hour period for all replicates in a trial o SEM = standard error of the mean number of individuals actively foraging over a 24 hour period for all replicates in a trial

Individual Files: