Individual and Colony Level Effects of Interactions between Two Common Forest Ant Species, Aphaenogaster carolinensis (Wheeler) and Nylanderia faisonensis (Forel)

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to isolate and describe the behaviors of individuals of two ant species, Aphaenogaster carolinensis Wheeler and Nylanderia faisonensis Forel, during their interference interactions, and to relate those to effects on colonies and their access to resources. Videos were taken of baited index cards from within the shared habitat of the ant species in northeast Georgia forests. Two measures of individual behavior, change in speed and deflection, and three measures of colony behavior, time to first ant, recruitment time and maximum number of individuals, were collected from video. Nest occurrence for each species within a specified distance of baits was determined for both species as well. Nylanderia faisonensis saw greater change in speed and deflection angle in response to species interactions than A. carolinensis. Locations with N. faisonensis nests had a higher maximum number of individuals of both species. Nylanderia faisonensis had longer recruitment times at locations with A. carolinensis nests. Although N. faisonensis was always the aggressor, they experienced clear negative consequences of their interactions.