Data from: Colony-level behavioral variation correlates with differences in expression of the foraging gene in red imported fire ants

Among social insects, colony-level variation is likely to be widespread
and have significant ecological consequences. Very few studies, however,
have documented how genetic factors relate to behavior at the colony
level. Differences in expression of the foraging gene have been associated
with differences in foraging and activity of a wide variety of organisms.
We quantified expression of the red imported fire ant foraging gene
(sifor) in workers from 21 colonies collected across the natural range of
Texas fire ant populations, but maintained under standardized,
environmentally controlled conditions. Colonies varied significantly in
their behavior. The most active colonies had up to 10 times more active
foragers than the least active colony and more than 16 times as many
workers outside the nest. Expression differences among colonies correlated
with this colony-level behavioral variation. Colonies with higher sifor
expression in foragers had, on average, significantly higher foraging
activity, exploratory activity, and recruitment to nectar than colonies
with lower expression. Expression of sifor was also strongly correlated
with worker task (foraging versus working in the interior of the nest).
These results provide insight into the genetic and physiological processes
underlying collective differences in social behavior. Quantifying
variation in expression of the foraging gene may provide an important tool
for understanding and predicting the ecological consequences of
colony-level behavioral variation.