The effects of light and temperature on the surface activity of ants.

Abstract

In studying whether the surface activity of the two ant species is correlated with light, air or soil temperatures at their ant holes, we formed the following hyotheses: Light levels will have an effect on ant surface activity. Specifically, increased light will increase ant surface activity. Ants may be visually-oriented and could take advantage of light to make foraging easier, thus increasing surface activity. Second, we expect that soil temperature will also have an effect on activity. We suggest that increased soil temeprature will increase ant activity. Being poikilotherms, ant body temperature will increase with higher soil temperature, increase their metabolic activity levels, thus causing them to emerge from the hole. Finally, we predict that air temperature will result in differing ant activity levels. A higher air temperature my increase activity levels and therefore the ants will be more likely to continue working outside of the hole instead of returning inside to work at a later time.