In ant nervous systems, gene expression may drive rescue behavior
Why do some ants help nestmates in distress while others don't? A research team from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Tel Aviv University addressed this question in a new study. The researchers examined worker ants of the species Cataglyphis niger, some of which had shown rescue behavior while others had not. The results, recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology,…
Researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Tel Aviv University investigated whether differences in gene expression in the nervous systems of ants drive the behavior of helping or not helping distressed nestmates. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, found that in the ant species Cataglyphis niger, rescue behavior was linked to measurable differences in gene activity in the nervous system, particularly in the mushroom bodies, rather than factors like body size, morphology, or energy reserves.
The researchers observed worker ants who either approached and attempted to free a restrained nestmate (rescuers) or approached but did not help (non-helpers). Through RNA sequencing, they identified 15 genes that were more active in rescuers, including those related to odor perception, hormonal regulation, metabolism, and immune functions.
Notably, immune genes, which protect insects from pathogens and can influence activity, sleep, and social behavior, also showed increased activity in rescuers. The findings suggest that rescue behavior in ants arises from a combination of sensory stimulus processing and molecular signaling pathways, rather than physical strength or energy reserves.
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