Acclimation in ants: Interference of communication and waterproofing through cuticular hydrocarbons in a multifunctional trait

Organismal traits may experience conflicting selection pressures if they fulfil different functions simultaneously. This can require trade-offs between or alternatively functional separation elements of the trait. An important multifunctional trait in insects is cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) layer. CHCs cover body nearly all insects, protect against desiccation and serve as a communication signal. In social like ants, provide cues for nestmate recognition. To maintain their waterproofing function, have to adjust CHC composition current temperatures. These changes might affect information content interfere with communication, which would be especially detrimental insects. Here, we studied how acclimation affects recognition two sister species ant genus Lasius. Colony fragments were exposed three climate regimes. We analysed behaviour towards same differently acclimated conspecifics, determined related acclimatory changes, colony differences inter-individual aggression. Differential led higher aggression chemical distances among former nestmates. identified small subsets, only differed colonies treatments. Moreover, few compounds sufficed explain aggression, suggesting that ants do not use entire profile identity encoded redundant way. Across individual CHCs, contribution treatments was negatively correlated, indicating there some degree separation. However, classes could clearly assigned one another role each idiosyncratic differ species. Acclimatory effects more independent from other L. platythorax than niger, even Our results show are intertwined previously assumed, cannot optimise independently. The main constraint need certain phase layer, depends on functionality. separate depend species-specific ecological life-history parameters. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.