Macronutrient Regulation in the Tropical Terrestrial Ant Ectatomma ruidum (Formicidae): A Field Study in Costa Rica Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Using the geometric framework for the first time in a field study of ant nutritional biology, we show that Ectatomma ruidum colonies actively regulate protein-carbohydrate intake, self-selecting a carbohydrate-biased diet. These data, combined with quantitative recruitment data, provide a more comprehensive understanding of colony-level nutritional requirements of ants. 2010 The Author(s). Journal compilation 2009 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.

published proceedings

  • BIOTROPICA

author list (cited authors)

  • Cook, S. C., & Behmer, S. T.

citation count

  • 27

complete list of authors

  • Cook, Steven C||Behmer, Spencer T

publication date

  • March 2010

publisher