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First published online January 31, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 570-577 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02678
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Acquiring, retaining and integrating memories of the outbound distance in the Australian desert ant Melophorus bagoti

Ajay Narendra1,2,*, Ken Cheng2 and Rüdiger Wehner3

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
2 Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
3 Department of Zoology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland


Figure 1
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  		Fig. 1. Experimental set-up. The nest was enclosed from all sides, with two outbound channels of 6 m and 12 m leading to feeders sunk into the ground and one inbound channel connected to the enclosure. Plastic gates between the channels and the nest enclosure allowed control over entry and exit of ants. Ants that arrived at the feeder were picked up and released in the 32 m long test channel that was placed parallel to the outbound channels. Figure is not drawn to scale.

 

Figure 2
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  		Fig. 2. Data from acquisition experiments. Distance estimates of ants trained to an outbound distance of 6 m or 12 m with zero (N=23, N=26, for 6 m and 12 m, respectively), one (N=23, N=26) and six (N=23, N=25) experiences. Individual first turns, medians, and quartiles are shown.

 

Figure 3
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  		Fig. 3. Data from retention experiments. Distance estimates of ants released following a delay of 0 h (N=27, N=40, for 6 m and 12 m, respectively), 24 h (N=42, N=38), 48 h (N=36, N=39), 96 h (N=42, N=46), and 192 h (N=43, N=41), trained to an outbound distance of 6 m (top) and 12 m (bottom). Individual first turns, medians, and quartiles are shown.

 

Figure 4
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  		Fig. 4. Data from integration experiments. (A) Ants trained five times at 6-m outbound distance and tested after a 12 m outbound trip (6–12) either immediately (N=18) or after a delay of 24 h (N=17). (B) Ants trained five times at 12 m outbound distance and tested after a 6 m outbound trip (12–6) either immediately (N=17) or after a delay of 24 h (N=17). Individual first turns, medians, and quartiles are shown. Data from the 0 h delay retention (Ret 0) group and 0-trial acquisition (Acq 0) group were pooled and are shown for both 6 m (N=50) and 12 m (N=66) distances.

 




© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2007