Aggression, Chemical, and Genetic Data for Argentine Ant Supercolonies in Europe

Data from a study by Olivier Blight presents behavioral, chemical, and genetic analyses of 18 Argentine ant nesting-sites across Corsica and the French mainland. It confirms a third European supercolony and correlates aggression levels with cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and genetic markers.

Use Cases

• Correlate aggression test outcomes with cuticular hydrocarbon profiles to identify chemical predictors of supercolony identity.
• Analyze genetic differentiation (e.g., FST values) between the Corsican, Main, and Catalonian supercolonies using nuclear and mitochondrial markers.
• Model the potential evolutionary derivation of supercolonies by comparing genetic composition data across the 18 sampled nesting-sites.

Strengths

• Includes data from 18 distinct nesting-sites, providing a multi-location sample.
• Integrates three data types: behavioral aggression tests, chemical cuticular hydrocarbons, and population genetic markers.
• Reports a specific genetic differentiation metric (FST = 0.06) between two supercolonies.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 18 nesting-sites, which may not capture the full variation within the supercolonies.
• Data is geographically restricted to Corsica and the French mainland, limiting generalizability to other invasive ranges.
• The dataset's age (last updated 2020) means newer genetic or behavioral findings are not included.

Provenance

Source

Dryad digital repository, authored by Olivier Blight.

Collection Method

Field sampling of 18 nesting-sites for aggression tests, chemical analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons, and population genetic analysis.

Freshness

Last updated 2020-06-24.

Geography

Corsica and the French mainland.