Abstract
Here we report on territorial behavior in the desert ant Cataglyphis niger. We show that, similar to the “bourgeois strategy,” contests are settled quickly through nonescalating fights, with the owner of the territory usually being placed in the winning role. The chemical cue that advertises ownership is shown to come from pheromones secreted by the cloacal gland. Differences in size did not influence the outcome of the experimental contests, but resource value did. The observed results fit in well with the biology of Cataglyphis, where, due to the harsh semidesert environment, fighting costs (C) are expected to be high relative to the value of the contested resources (V). A situation where V< Ci s exactly that in which bourgeois behavior is expected to be seen.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
