Florida Carpenter Ants: Life-Saving Surgeries

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Questions and Answers

What evolutionary pressure might have led Florida carpenter ants to develop their unique surgical behavior, considering their lack of antimicrobial secretions?

Increased susceptibility to parasitic infections requiring physical removal of infected tissues.
A competitive advantage in resource acquisition due to enhanced individual mobility after injury.
High colony densities and frequent injuries, making wound management more critical for overall colony survival. (correct)
The need to maintain social cohesion within the colony by preventing the spread of disease from injured individuals.

How might the decision-making process for performing 'surgery' on an injured ant be influenced by the ant's role and importance within the colony?

Surgery is prioritized for older ants nearing the end of their natural life, to maximize their remaining contribution to the colony's tasks.
The surgery is performed at random without accounting for the injured ant's role.
Ants with higher social status receive immediate surgical attention, regardless of the severity of the injury, to ensure their continued contribution to the colony.
The perceived likelihood of successful recovery and the potential future contribution of the injured ant to the colony's survival dictates the decision. (correct)

If Florida carpenter ants were introduced to a new environment lacking the specific soil germ used in the German lab study, how might their 'surgical' behavior change over several generations?

It would remain unchanged, as the behavior is genetically hardwired and not influenced by environmental factors.
The behavior would likely decrease or disappear due to a reduced need for infection control, unless it provides another benefit. (correct)
The ants would develop new antimicrobial secretions to compensate for the absence of the original soil germ.
The 'surgical' behavior would intensify as the ants adapt to new pathogens in the environment.

Considering the absence of antimicrobial secretions in Florida carpenter ants, what alternative mechanisms might they employ to minimize infection risk post-'surgery'?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How could the evolutionary success of Florida carpenter ants, despite lacking antimicrobial secretions, inform our understanding of the development of social immunity in other species?

It demonstrates that social immunity can evolve as an alternative strategy when individual immune defenses are limited or absent. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why might ants opt to amputate a damaged femur rather than a damaged tibia?

The femur possesses more muscle tissue, slowing hemolymph flow and allowing time for amputation before infection spreads. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the study suggest ants differentiate between wounds requiring amputation versus those needing only cleaning?

Based on the potential for hemolymph flow to spread infection, influenced by the amount of muscle tissue near the injury. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most significant implication of the ant surgery study regarding social behavior and medicine in non-human species?

It challenges the assumption that sophisticated medical practices are unique to humans, demonstrating advanced social care in ants. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the study's findings, what evolutionary advantage might this "surgical" behavior provide for ant colonies?

It minimizes the spread of infection and maximizes survival rates, ensuring a healthier and more productive workforce. (A) Signup and view all the answers

If scientists were to investigate "surgical" behaviors in other ant species, what key factor would they most likely examine to predict whether such behaviors exist?

The hemolymph flow dynamics and muscle tissue density in the limbs of those ant species. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Florida Carpenter Ants

Ants native to the southern United States known for teamwork.

Ant 'Surgeries'

Removing infected limbs to save nestmates from infection.