Experimental colony transplants in the western harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis): effects of food, mating frequency and lineage

We produced experimental colonies of harvester ants by conducting directed matings.  We manipulated mating frequency of queens from known source colonies to explore lineage effects.  After growing the colonies for one year, they were transplanted back into their native habitat in a randomized design.  Food supplements were provided to half of the colonies.  We will present results on survival as a function of habitat quality, queen attributes, lineage, food supplement and mating frequency.