Visual cues used by ball-rolling dung beetles for orientation

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2003
Authors:M. Byrne, Dacke, M., Nordstrom, P., Scholtz, C., Warrant, E.
Journal:Journal of Comparative Physiology a-Neuroethology Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology
Volume:189
Pagination:411-418
Date Published:Jun
Accession Number:ISI:000184015600002
Keywords:celestial cue, foraging, insects, kheper nigroaeneus coleoptera, navigation, path integration, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae, visual orientation
Abstract:

Ball rolling by dung beetles is considered to be a derived behaviour that evolved under pressure for space, and from competitors at the dung pat. Straight-line orientation away from the pat using a celestial cue should be the most successful rolling strategy to move dung to an unknown burial site. We tested this hypothesis in the field and the laboratory by presenting five species of ball-rolling beetles with different orientation tasks, involving reaction to obstacles as well as to reflected sunlight and artificial light sources. Beetles were found to consistently orientate along a chosen route, usually in the direction of the sun. Beetles rolling dung balls successfully negotiated barriers and returned to the original path as did beetles falling from ramps, or rotated about a fixed point while rolling a ball. The sun was found to be the main orientation cue, which could be substituted by reflected or artificial light. However, beetles reoriented themselves less accurately in response to lights in the laboratory, than they did to the reflected sun in the field. It is probable that phototactic orientation using the sun, which is widespread amongst arthropods, has been incorporated in the straight-line foraging behaviour that has evolved in ball-rolling dung beetles.

URL:<Go to ISI>://000184015600002
Alternate Journal:J. Comp. Physiol. A -Neuroethol. Sens. Neural Behav. Physiol.
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith