Leadership – not followership – determines performance in ant teams

Abstract Economic theory predicts that organisations achieve higher levels of productivity when tasks are divided among different subsets workers. This prediction is based upon the expectation individuals should perform best they specialise a few tasks. However, in colonies social insects evidence for causal link between division labour and performance equivocal. To address this issue, we performed targeted worker removal experiment to disrupt normal allocation workers cooperative team task – tandem running. During run knowledgeable leader communicates location new nest follower by physically guiding her there. The prominent leaders significantly reduced performance, whereas followers had no effect. Furthermore, analyses experience both participants each revealed was influenced primarily how consistently acted as need arose, but not consistency follower. Our study shows ant teams depends largely on whether or key role filled an experienced individual, suggests animal teams, all roles equally important.