In:
PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 19, No. 6 ( 2021-6-30), p. e3001305-
Abstract:
Oxytocin/vasopressin-related neuropeptides are highly conserved and play major roles in regulating social behavior across vertebrates. However, whether their insect orthologue, inotocin, regulates the behavior of social groups remains unknown. Here, we show that in the clonal raider ant Ooceraea biroi , individuals that perform tasks outside the nest have higher levels of inotocin in their brains than individuals of the same age that remain inside the nest. We also show that older ants, which spend more time outside the nest, have higher inotocin levels than younger ants. Inotocin thus correlates with the propensity to perform tasks outside the nest. Additionally, increasing inotocin pharmacologically increases the tendency of ants to leave the nest. However, this effect is contingent on age and social context. Pharmacologically treated older ants have a higher propensity to leave the nest only in the presence of larvae, whereas younger ants seem to do so only in the presence of pupae. Our results suggest that inotocin signaling plays an important role in modulating behaviors that correlate with age, such as social foraging, possibly by modulating behavioral response thresholds to specific social cues. Inotocin signaling thereby likely contributes to behavioral individuality and division of labor in ant societies.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1545-7885
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s010
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s011
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s012
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s013
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s014
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s015
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s016
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s017
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s018
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s019
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s020
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s021
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s022
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s023
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.s024
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.r004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.r005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001305.r006
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2126773-X
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