Feeding Ecology and Behavioral Adaptations shape Injury Patterns in Central European Ants

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Autori principali: Opolka, Melvin Kenneth, Koeters, Alina, Frank, Erik
Natura: Recurso digital
Lingua:inglese
Pubblicazione: Zenodo 2026
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author Opolka, Melvin Kenneth
Koeters, Alina
Frank, Erik
author_facet Opolka, Melvin Kenneth
Koeters, Alina
Frank, Erik
contents <p>This dataset contains records and observations on injury rates and patterns in native ant species collected across different habitats in Bavaria, Germany. The study investigates whether a species’ feeding ecology or habitat can predict the occurrence and distribution of injuries. Specimens were collected using pitfall traps, allowing efficient assessment of injuries to specific body regions.</p> <p>The data reveal strong variation in injury frequency among species and genera (0–38%). Predatory ants were more prone to leg injuries, while omnivorous species more often showed antenna injuries. These differences likely reflect species-specific foraging behavior and wound care responses, with frequent trochanter injuries suggesting self-amputation as a possible infection management strategy, as observed in Lasius alienus.</p> <p>Overall, the dataset provides comparative evidence that feeding ecology and behavior influence injury occurrence and type. It supports the view that injuries represent an ecological and evolutionary factor linked to the development of wound care and social immunity in ants.</p>
format Recurso digital
id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_19910014
institution Zenodo
language eng
publishDate 2026
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle Feeding Ecology and Behavioral Adaptations shape Injury Patterns in Central European Ants
Opolka, Melvin Kenneth
Koeters, Alina
Frank, Erik
ant injuries
feeding ecology
foraging behavior
pitfall traps
myrmecology
<p>This dataset contains records and observations on injury rates and patterns in native ant species collected across different habitats in Bavaria, Germany. The study investigates whether a species’ feeding ecology or habitat can predict the occurrence and distribution of injuries. Specimens were collected using pitfall traps, allowing efficient assessment of injuries to specific body regions.</p> <p>The data reveal strong variation in injury frequency among species and genera (0–38%). Predatory ants were more prone to leg injuries, while omnivorous species more often showed antenna injuries. These differences likely reflect species-specific foraging behavior and wound care responses, with frequent trochanter injuries suggesting self-amputation as a possible infection management strategy, as observed in Lasius alienus.</p> <p>Overall, the dataset provides comparative evidence that feeding ecology and behavior influence injury occurrence and type. It supports the view that injuries represent an ecological and evolutionary factor linked to the development of wound care and social immunity in ants.</p>
title Feeding Ecology and Behavioral Adaptations shape Injury Patterns in Central European Ants
topic ant injuries
feeding ecology
foraging behavior
pitfall traps
myrmecology
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19910014