Tracking whole colonies shows ants make career moves : Nature News & Comment.

 

One of the things we discuss in class is social living, particularly among social insects.  For this to work, individuals must give up independent reproductive success–one of the key components to evolutionary fitness.  Occasionally, even individual foraging for food is sacrificed–some social individuals (such as a queen) may never leave home.   We often consider that these behaviors are selfless and self-sacrificing, for “the good of the colony.”

Really, though, do you think ants think about it?  Do you think they ponder whether their actions are of value to the colony, if they’re working hard enough, or if their fellow ants are carrying their fair share of the load?

This research is really interesting because it shows that ants can move up in the social hierarchy–like more sophisticated social animals such as primates or, well, even humans.  They may never rise to the “queen” level (most of us won’t, either), but that apparently doesn’t mean that they can’t, or won’t, try.

It also brings into question whether social ants act out of altruism or selfishness. I would argue that it’s not really an accurate portrayal of a social group–these behaviors are instinctual, and aren’t really a decision to sacrifice one’s own well-being for the benefit of another.  However, you could also make the opposite argument: that socially living creatures exhibit very sophisticated altruism.  So, if these career moves constitute some sort of self-interest, does that deny altruism?  Is this a selfish behavior, or do they move up the social ranks more because they’re efficient and do their jobs well?