The
ant
nest
serves
as
the
skeleton
of
superorganism.
Similar
to
a
skeleton,
expands
colony
grows
and
requires
repair
after
catastrophic
events.
We
experimentally
compared
excavation
by
colonies
seeded
from
single
mated
queen
then
allowed
grow
for
six
months,
triggered
event
in
with
fixed
demographics.
areas
excavated
equal
group
sizes
differed
significantly
between
these
conditions:
heterogeneous
populations
naturally
growing
well
cohorts
young
ants
dig
larger
than
old
cohorts.
Moreover,
we
find
that
younger
tend
slanted
tunnels
while
older
straight
down.
This
is
novel
form
age
polyethism,
where
an
ant’s
dictates
not
only
her
likelihood
engage
task
but
also
way
she
performs
task.
further
present
quantitative
model
predicts
under
normal
growth,
digging
predominantly
performed
catastrophe
all
restore
lost
volume.
fact
nests
exhibit
strengthens
this
prediction.
Finally,
our
results
indicate
how
colony’s
demographic
physical
history
are
sketched
into
current
structure
its
nest.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
378(1884)
Published: July 10, 2023
Successful
reproduction
for
most
birds
requires
them
to
have
built
'good'
nests.
The
remarkable
diversity
of
nests
across
approximately
10
000
species
living
suggests
that
nest
design
depends
critically
on
a
species'
microhabitat,
life
history
and
behaviour.
Unravelling
the
key
drivers
remains
research
priority-bolstered
by
renewed
appreciation
museum
collections
increasing
correlational
field
experimental
laboratory
data.
Phylogenetic
analyses-coupled
with
powerful
datasets
traits-are
increasingly
shedding
light
evolution
morphology
there
are
functional
questions
yet
be
addressed.
For
birds,
at
least,
developmental
mechanistic
analyses
building
(behaviour,
hormones,
neuroscience)
itself,
rather
than
measurements
morphology,
already
becoming
next
major
challenge.
We
moving
towards
holistic
picture
in
which
Tinbergen's
four
levels
explanation:
evolution,
function,
development,
mechanism,
being
used
explain
variation
convergence
design-and,
turn,
could
shed
question
how
know
build
This
article
is
part
theme
issue
'The
evolutionary
ecology
nests:
cross-taxon
approach'.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
378(1884)
Published: July 10, 2023
Animals
construct
and
inhabit
nests
that
can
exhibit
dramatic
intra-
interspecific
variation
due
to
differences
in
behaviour,
the
biotic
abiotic
environment,
evolutionary
history.
In
ants,
nest
architecture
reflects
both
ecology
collective
behaviour
of
colonies
live
nests.
Each
component
(such
as
depth,
number,
size
connectivity
chambers)
selective
pressures
for
different
functions,
or
structural
constraints
are
imposed
by
environment
To
determine
potential
drivers
structure
subterranean
nests,
we
performed
a
meta-analysis
measures
published
ant
compare
elements
within
across
species.
We
complemented
this
survey
with
42
casts
two
closely
related
quantified
features
potentially
impact
foraging
examined
whether
phylogeny
strategy
better
explanatory
variables
observed.
found
explained
than
Our
work
reveals
importance
shaping
provides
an
important
foundation
future
investigations
into
have
shaped
architecture.
This
article
is
part
theme
issue
‘The
nests:
cross-taxon
approach’.
Birds,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
5(2), P. 278 - 307
Published: June 12, 2024
More
than
40
hypotheses
predict
associations
between
features
of
nest
architecture
and
at
least
one
measure
reproductive
success.
However,
quantitative
studies
consequences
characteristics
remain
scarce.
In
addition,
most
were
conducted
on
model
species
which
nests
can
be
easily
monitored
with
artificial
nest-boxes.
Here,
we
review
the
replicability
research
protocols
findings
in
species,
many
repeat
focusing
mainly
nest-size
components,
animal-derived
material,
or
fresh
greenery
secondary
hole-nesting
birds:
Blue
Tits
(Cyanistes
caeruleus),
Great
(Parus
major),
Tree
Swallows
(Tachycineta
bicolor),
Starlings
(Sturnus
spp.).
The
looked
for
correlations
traits
aspects
breeding
performance
that
quantified
field,
such
as
clutch
size,
brood
size
hatching
fledging,
percentage
eggs
hatch
fledge,
nestling
assumed
to
reflect
qualities
associated
survival
probabilities
(e.g.,
morphometry,
body
condition,
blood
profiles).
We
discuss
poor
methodologies
provide
explanations
why
these
reported
design
success
different
spatiotemporal
scales.
also
make
suggestions
future
research.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
378(1884)
Published: July 10, 2023
Nests,
including
the
enormous
structures
housing
colonies
of
eusocial
insects
and
elaborately
built
nests
some
fishes,
have
long
fascinated
scientists,
yet
our
understanding
evolutionary
ecology
has
lagged
behind
subsequent
reproductive
stages.
There
has,
however,
been
a
burgeoning
amount
interest
in
over
past
decade,
this
special
issue
on
‘The
nests:
cross-taxon
approach'
outlines
form
function
diverse
animal
lineages.
Papers
mechanisms
adaptive
benefits'
theme
examine
various
functions
nests,
while
papers
evolution
nest
characteristics'
nesting
behaviours.
Meanwhile,
‘Large
communal
harsh
environments'
how
constructed
by
social
birds
enable
them
to
inhabit
arid
environments,
whereas
‘Nests
Anthropocene'
shifts
architecture
allow
animals
adapt
breed
age
accelerating
global
human
impacts.
Finally,
synthesis
mixture
ideas
approaches
from
researchers
studying
different
taxa
will
advance
exciting
field
research.
This
article
is
part
approach’.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 29, 2024
Abstract
Emergence
is
a
fundamental
concept
in
biology
and
other
disciplines,
but
whether
emergent
phenotypes
evolve
similarly
to
non-emergent
unclear.
The
hypothesized
process
of
evolution
posits
that
evolutionary
change
collective
behavior
irreducible
the
intrinsic
behaviors
isolated
individuals.
As
result,
might
more
rapidly
diversify
between
populations
compared
individual
behavior.
To
test
if
evolves
emergently,
we
conducted
large
comparative
study
using
22
ant
species
gathered
over
1,500
behavioral
rhythm
time
series
from
hundreds
colonies
individuals,
totaling
1.5
years
data.
We
show
analogous
traits
measured
at
levels
exhibit
distinct
patterns.
estimated
rates
phenotypic
for
rhythmicity
activity
were
faster
than
same
ants,
total
variation
across
was
higher
hypothesize
rapid
general
feature
relative
lower-level
complex
biological
systems.
Abstract:
More
than
40
hypotheses
predict
associations
between
features
of
nest
architecture
and
at
least
one
measure
reproductive
success.
However,
quantitative
studies
consequences
characteristics
remain
scarce.
In
addition,
most
were
conducted
on
model
species
which
nests
can
be
easily
monitored
with
artificial
nest-boxes.
Here
we
review
the
replicability
research
protocols
findings
in
many
repeat
focusing
mainly
nest-size
components,
animal-derived
material,
or
fresh
greenery
blue
tits
(Cyanistes
caeruleus),
great
(Parus
major),
tree
swallows
(Tachycineta
bicolor),
starlings
(Sturnus
spp.).
The
looked
for
correlations
traits
aspects
breeding
performance
that
quantified
field,
such
clutch
size,
brood
size
hatching
fledging,
%
eggs
hatch
fledge,
nestling
assumed
to
reflect
qualities
associated
survival
probabilities
(e.g.,
morphometry,
body
condition,
blood
profiles).
We
discuss
poor
methodologies
provide
explanations
why
these
reported
design
success
different
spatiotemporal
scales.
also
make
suggestions
future
research.
Keywords:
Nest
design,
Breeding
success,
Nest-box,
Cavity-nesting
birds,
Replicability
Journal of Zoology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 10, 2024
Abstract
Nest
construction
is
a
feature
of
range
taxa,
yet
the
functional
properties
nests
are
poorly
understood.
Avian
offer
thermal
insulation,
structural
support
and
protection
from
rain,
but
to
date
there
few
studies
that
have
explored
these
functions
for
mammal
nests.
Here
constructed
by
harvest
mice
(
Micromys
minutus
)
were
studied
ex
situ
determine
insulation
provided
nest
wall
degree
which
simulated
rainfall
was
absorbed.
Nests
collected
across
Great
Britain
analysis
whether
size
geographical
location
affected
or
rainproofing.
grass
leaves
woven
into
an
outer
surrounded
smaller
pieces
filled
interior
nest.
mass
positively
related
unrelated
location.
By
contrast,
amount
water
absorbed
after
rain
volume
longitude
inversely
time
it
took
dry
out.
In
many
ways,
had
similar
those
small
songbirds,
i.e.,
provide
This
study
first
explore
environmental
potentially
offered
their
The
has
highlighted
our
poor
understanding
factors
function
There
scope
more
research
properties,
e.g.,
rainproofing,
wide
variety
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(48)
Published: Nov. 22, 2024
Emergence
is
a
fundamental
concept
in
biology
and
other
disciplines,
but
whether
emergent
phenotypes
evolve
similarly
to
nonemergent
unclear.
The
hypothesized
process
of
evolution
posits
that
evolutionary
change
at
least
some
collective
behaviors
will
differ
from
the
corresponding
intrinsic
isolated
individuals.
As
result,
behavior
might
more
rapidly
diversify
between
populations
compared
individual
behavior.
To
test
evolves
emergently,
we
conducted
large
comparative
study
using
22
ant
species
gathered
over
1,500
behavioral
rhythm
time
series
hundreds
colonies
individuals,
totaling
1.5
y
data.
We
show
analogous
traits
measured
levels
exhibit
distinct
patterns.
estimated
rates
phenotypic
for
rhythmicity
activity
were
faster
than
same
ants,
total
variation
across
was
higher
hypothesize
rapid
widespread
feature
relative
lower-level
complex
biological
systems.
Entomology and Applied Science Letters,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11(1), P. 17 - 22
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
This
study
assessed
the
nest
architecture
of
Black
Larger
Ant
using
low-cost
white
cement.
Length
and
width
tunnel,
length,
width,
diameter
chamber,
deepness
nest,
number
tunnels
chambers
by
standard
measuring
tools
techniques.
The
average
circumference
(15.1±4.30
cm),
Depth
(13.1±3.50
(9.0±2.0),
tunnel
length
(10.70±5.60),
(3.00±1.00),
(6.0&p