2nd Place: D3116: Experience-dependent development of the visual system in Camponotus floridanus ants

The visual system is an important sensory modality for a variety of species. In many organisms, as they mature, the visual system develops through activity-dependent stimulation of appropriate synapses to ensure proper connections. In invertebrates, serotonin contributes to long-term plasticity of synapses and in insects, serotonin plays an important role in modulating visual system development. It has been shown that ants have high levels of neuroplasticity during development associated with behavioral changes due to temporal polyethism; however, it is unclear whether this plasticity extends to the visual system. The main goal of our study is to determine if Camponotus floridanus ants undergo experience-expectant or experience-dependent development of their visual systems. We experimentally deprived ants of light during development and examined how the serotoninergic neurons within the visual systems were affected. We observed differences in serotoninergic neuron arborizations in ants deprived of light immediately post-eclosion, indicating an experience-dependent process. We further discuss the implications of this experience-dependent development as it relates to eusociality.