Lynn R. Heath

Abstract

In a study of timing in this ant ten of the twelve nests which were observed opened synchronously in the morning and closed in the evening. However, one was never seen to close and another closed during the day and stayed open at night.

A seasonal progression was shown by later opening times and earlier closing times. Opening and closing temperatures at the surface of the ground and three inches deep showed no seasonal progression.

In most cases the days when the nests opened the earliest the temperatures at opening time were the highest.

Soon after nests had closed they were illuminated but remained closed until the usual opening time. When nests were cooled with ice their opening time was delayed significantly.

Possibly opening and closing are clock controlled, occurring if a suitable temperature is reached within certain timed segments of the day; such a clock might be kept in phase by the whole light (or temperature) cycle.

LLU Discipline

Biology

Department

Biology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Elwood S. McCluskey

Second Advisor

Earl W. Lathrop

Third Advisor

Raymond E. Rychman

Fourth Advisor

Robert L. Schultz

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

1968

Date (Title Page)

5-1968

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Ants

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii: 49

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Included in

Biology Commons

Share

COinS