The Role of Associative Learning in the Feeding Behavior, Development, and Fitness of Antlions

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dc.contributorMillard, Willen_US
dc.contributorBarry, Susanen_US
dc.contributor.advisorHollis, Karenen_US
dc.contributor.authorCogswell, Heatheren_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-02-16T13:47:18Z
dc.date.available2011-02-16T13:47:18Z
dc.date.gradyear2008en_US
dc.date.issued2011-02-16
dc.date.submitted2008-05-21 14:59:26en_US
dc.description.abstractPrevious studies have established the importance of associative learning in actively foraging insects, including bees, wasps, flies, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and locusts. This observation of learning in such a wide range of species has revealed the significance of associative learning for increasing an individual s fitness, that is, the individual s ability to survive and successfully reproduce. To date, no published study has investigated the role of associative learning in sessile predators, like antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Thus, the purpose of the current study was to determine the role of associative learning in antlion feeding behavior, development, and fitness. In the current study 56 antlions were assigned to either a learning (LRN) (n = 28) or a control (CON) (n = 27) condition. One prey item was delivered to each subject once per 24-hour training day until the subject molted or pupated, which concluded the experiment. Data were analyzed through 70 training days. Subjects in the LRN condition received a vibrational cue, namely 4.5 mL of dropping sand, immediately prior to delivery of the mealworm. CON subjects received the same cue at a time independent of the feeding. Feeding behavior (extraction efficiency rate) and pit volume were measured each training day. In addition, sand-throwing behavior was observed. Third instar LRN subjects demonstrated increased sand-throwing behavior in response to the cue. In addition, a survival analysis revealed that antlions in the LRN condition to demonstrated greater fitness as measured by faster development and pupation.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNeuroscience & Behavioren_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10166/722
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rights.restrictedpublic
dc.subjectantlionsen_US
dc.subjectassociative learningen_US
dc.subjectdevelopmenten_US
dc.subjectfitnessen_US
dc.titleThe Role of Associative Learning in the Feeding Behavior, Development, and Fitness of Antlionsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
mhc.degreeUndergraduateen_US
mhc.institutionMount Holyoke Collegeen_US

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