significantly affected discovery time (F 134 = 6.71, p = 0.0140), with sugar baits
discovered more quickly than protein baits (Figure 3.8). Species was also a significant
factor (F1j34 = 7.62, p = 0.0092), as crazy ants discovered baits more quickly than fire ants
(Figure 3.8).
Discussion
The results of the colony-level competition experiment indicate that crazy ants
recruit to baits more quickly than fire ants both in isolation and in competition (Figure
3.4). However, despite their quick recruitment, they do not consume more resources than
fire ants in control colonies (Table 3.1). In fact, the only significant difference between
species in resource consumption was for sugar water consumption, of which fire ants
consumed more (Figure 3.2). Yet, crazy ants were the species found most often at both
bait types at the end of the experiment in competition colonies (Table 3.1), suggesting
that their recruitment times and abundances may be important in maintaining access to
baits when faced with a competitor.
In general, significant differences between species in controls remained
significant for the same response variables in competition colonies (Table 3.1). Crazy
ants recruited more quickly to mealworms and sugar water and in higher numbers to
mealworms than fire ants did in both control and competition colonies (Figures 3.3 and
3.4). In fact, the crazy ant advantage was larger in competition than in control. This
finding suggests that crazy ants, which have an inherent advantage over fire ants in
recruitment speed and numbers, may have deterred fire ants from discovering and
recruiting to baits in competition. Another result which points to this conclusion is that
50
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