Natural history, behavior and ecology of Camponotus rufipes and Camponotus renggeri (Formicidae: Formicinae): a comparative study

• Grant number: 11/04667-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira
• Grantee: Mariane Ueda Vaz Ronque
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ants represents between 10 to 15% of the animal biomass in terrestrial environment. The Brazilian cerrado has a great diversity of ants when compared with other savannas of the rest of the world. The ants Camponotus rufipes and Camponotus renggeri belong to the same subgenera Myrmothryx and they are among the most abundant ants of the cerrado. Both species are important in food webs in these environment, because they interact with several species of plants and arthropods. However, there is uncertainty about taxonomic limits among these two species, because the two are plenty similar morphologically. This work aims to study the natural history of C. rufipes and C. renggeri, including ecological and behavioral aspects, such as the characterization of the nests, activity pattern, diet and foraging patterns. The study will be accomplished in area of cerrado sensu stricto in the Ecological Station of Itirapina (state of São Paulo). The nests of C. rufipes and C. renggeri will be marked through active search and use of sardine baits and honey. The nests of both species will be characterized according with the structure and location, and the pattern of activity of the colonies will be determined through samples accomplished during 24 hours. The foraging area of the ants will be estimated through the attendance of marked workers in selected colonies. The diet of the two species will be investigated in hours of most activity of the ants and the alimentary items will be collected and identified. Quantitative ethograms of the captivity colonies will be done aiming a behavioral comparison. Through the ecological and behavioral data is expected to contribute for a better comprehension about the taxonomic status of C. rufipes e C. renggeri. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Three ways to distinguish species: using behavioural, ecological, and molecular data to tell apart two closely related ants, Camponotus renggeri and Camponotus rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 176, n. 1, p. 170-181, JAN 2016. (12/23671-5, 12/08689-5, 14/23141-1, 11/04667-4, 13/08086-1, 11/18580-8, 08/52197-4)

RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; FOURCASSIE, VINCENT; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Ecology and field biology of two dominant Camponotus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian savannah. Journal of Natural History, v. 52, n. 3-4, p. 237-252, 2018. (11/04667-4, 14/23141-1)

RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Three ways to distinguish species: using behavioural, ecological, and molecular data to tell apart two closely related ants, Camponotus renggeri and Camponotus rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 176, n. 1, p. 12-pg., 2016-01-01. (11/04667-4, 12/08689-5, 14/23141-1, 11/18580-8, 08/52197-4, 12/23671-5, 13/08086-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RONQUE, Mariane Ueda Vaz. Natural history, behavior and ecology of Camponotus rufipes and Camponotus renggeri (Formicidae: Formicinae): a comparative study in Cerrado vegetation. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.