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Local vectors in desert ants: context-dependent landmark learning during outbound and homebound runs

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Abstract

Desert ants, Cataglyphis fortis, associate nestward-directed vector memories (local vectors) with the sight of landmarks along a familiar route. This view-based navigational strategy works in parallel to the self-centred path integration system. In the present study we ask at what temporal stage during a foraging journey does the ant acquire nestward-directed local vector information from feeder-associated landmarks: during its outbound run to a feeding site or during its homebound run to the nest. Tests performed after two reversed-image training paradigms revealed that the ants associated such vectors exclusively with landmarks present during their homebound runs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Markus Knaden, Monika Wyss and Nadja Zeltner for help in the experiments and the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 31-61844.00) and the G. and A. Claraz Foundation for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    S. Bisch-Knaden & R. Wehner

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  1. S. Bisch-Knaden
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  2. R. Wehner
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Correspondence to R. Wehner.

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Bisch-Knaden, S., Wehner, R. Local vectors in desert ants: context-dependent landmark learning during outbound and homebound runs. J Comp Physiol A 189, 181–187 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-003-0389-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-003-0389-z

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