@article{GrobHeinigGruebeletal.2021,
  author    = {Grob, Robin and Heinig, Niklas and Gr{\"u}bel, Kornelia and R{\"o}ssler, Wolfgang and Fleischmann, Pauline N.},
  title     = {Sex-specific and caste-specific brain adaptations related to spatial orientation in Cataglyphis ants},
  series = {Journal of Comparative Neurology},
  volume    = {529},
  journal   = {Journal of Comparative Neurology},
  number    = {18},
  doi       = {10.1002/cne.25221},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257299},
  pages     = {3882-3892},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Cataglyphis desert ants are charismatic central place foragers. After long-ranging foraging trips, individual workers navigate back to their nest relying mostly on visual cues. The reproductive caste faces other orientation challenges, i.e. mate finding and colony foundation. Here we compare brain structures involved in spatial orientation of Cataglyphis nodus males, gynes, and foragers by quantifying relative neuropil volumes associated with two visual pathways, and numbers and volumes of antennal lobe (AL) olfactory glomeruli. Furthermore, we determined absolute numbers of synaptic complexes in visual and olfactory regions of the mushroom bodies (MB) and a major relay station of the sky-compass pathway to the central complex (CX). Both female castes possess enlarged brain centers for sensory integration, learning, and memory, reflected in voluminous MBs containing about twice the numbers of synaptic complexes compared with males. Overall, male brains are smaller compared with both female castes, but the relative volumes of the optic lobes and CX are enlarged indicating the importance of visual guidance during innate behaviors. Male ALs contain greatly enlarged glomeruli, presumably involved in sex-pheromone detection. Adaptations at both the neuropil and synaptic levels clearly reflect differences in sex-specific and caste-specific demands for sensory processing and behavioral plasticity underlying spatial orientation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HabensteinAminiGruebeletal.2020,
  author    = {Habenstein, Jens and Amini, Emad and Gr{\"u}bel, Kornelia and el Jundi, Basil and R{\"o}ssler, Wolfgang},
  title     = {The brain of Cataglyphis ants: Neuronal organization and visual projections},
  series = {Journal of Comparative Neurology},
  volume    = {528},
  journal   = {Journal of Comparative Neurology},
  number    = {18},
  doi       = {10.1002/cne.24934},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218212},
  pages     = {3479 -- 3506},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Cataglyphis ants are known for their outstanding navigational abilities. They return to their inconspicuous nest after far-reaching foraging trips using path integration, and whenever available, learn and memorize visual features of panoramic sceneries. To achieve this, the ants combine directional visual information from celestial cues and panoramic scenes with distance information from an intrinsic odometer. The largely vision-based navigation in Cataglyphis requires sophisticated neuronal networks to process the broad repertoire of visual stimuli. Although Cataglyphis ants have been subjected to many neuroethological studies, little is known about the general neuronal organization of their central brain and the visual pathways beyond major circuits. Here, we provide a comprehensive, three-dimensional neuronal map of synapse-rich neuropils in the brain of Cataglyphis nodus including major connecting fiber systems. In addition, we examined neuronal tracts underlying the processing of visual information in more detail. This study revealed a total of 33 brain neuropils and 30 neuronal fiber tracts including six distinct tracts between the optic lobes and the cerebrum. We also discuss the importance of comparative studies on insect brain architecture for a profound understanding of neuronal networks and their function.},
  language  = {en}
}