A NOTE ON FOOD AND FORAGING IN RELATION TO TEMPERATURE IN THE MEAT ANT IRIDOMYRMEX PURPUREUS FORM VIRIDIAENEUS*

Abstract

The foraging activity of the meat ant Iridoi)i~,,.itie.~-pu,.pur.esrs form vidzueneus is closely correlated with temperature in an arid environment. The ants feed on ii wide range of plant and animal material. travelling up to 100 m to gather food.

Maladaptive traits in invasive species: in Australia, cane toads are more vulnerable to predatory ants than are native frogs

“…Hence, metamorph toads generally emerge onto relatively bare (unvegetated) pond margins, especially since water levels drop rapidly through the course of the tropical dryseason, leaving extensive open banks (Redhead 1979). Meat ants preferentially forage in open areas like this (Greaves 1971;Mobbs et al 1978), and our laboratory experiments showed that a potential prey item in an open area was more likely to be discovered and exploited by meat ants than was a similar prey item in a sheltered location. Again, then, phylogenetically conservative features of the toad's biology -shared not just by other cane toad populations, but also by most other taxa within the highly speciose family Bufonidae -have created vulnerabilities for cane toads when they encounter ants in tropical Australia.…”

“…Hence, metamorph toads generally emerge onto relatively bare (unvegetated) pond margins, especially since water levels drop rapidly through the course of the tropical dry‐season, leaving extensive open banks (Redhead 1979). Meat ants preferentially forage in open areas like this (Greaves 1971; Mobbs et al . 1978), and our laboratory experiments showed that a potential prey item in an open area was more likely to be discovered and exploited by meat ants than was a similar prey item in a sheltered location.…”

Factors affecting the vulnerability of cane toads (Bufo marinus) to predation by ants

“…, 2008a; Child, Phillips & Shine, 2008b). The bare margins of these ponds are also foraging sites for bearded meat ants ( Iridomyrmex reburrus ; Shattuck, 1999), a medium‐sized (to 10 mm body length) ant that consumes both dead and live prey (Carrol & Janzen, 1973; Mobbs et al. , 1978).…”

“…Desiccation risk precludes dispersal into the surrounding landscape, such that young toads aggregate near the water's edge until wet-season rains facilitate dispersal (Child et al, 2008a;Child, Phillips & Shine, 2008b). The bare margins of these ponds are also foraging sites for bearded meat ants (Iridomyrmex reburrus; Shattuck, 1999), a mediumsized (to 10 mm body length) ant that consumes both dead and live prey (Carrol & Janzen, 1973;Mobbs et al, 1978). Unlike many vertebrates (e.g.…”

Future of the Fauna of Western New South Wales

“…The relative humidity of nest air was similar to that of the soil (68%) despite the higher nest temperature and the nest atmosphere had 4.5 times the ambient CO2 level, and slightly less Og-Nest decoration may serve as mechanical protection, a behavioural boundary, a modifier of surface temperature and a dew trap. Mobbs et al (1978) investigated foraging activity in I. purpureus form viridiaeneus at Kinchega National Park. Behaviour was closely correlated to temperature, and ants travelled up to 100 m to feed on a range of plant and animal material.…”