Figure 1.

Ant lifespan on different diets. (a) The response to the ratio of protein to carbohydrate in the diet at a fixed total concentration of nutrients. (b) Exploration of the effect of the P : C 5 : 1 diet: complete 5 : 1 mix of protein and carbohydrate (P : C); the main source of protein omitted, leaving only residual protein in other ingredients and a highly dilute food medium (C); carbohydrate omitted (P); and choice of protein and carbohydrate diets offered in separate dishes (P versus C). (c) The effect of concentration of nutrients in the high-protein diet (5 : 1). (d) The response to duration of exposure to the high-protein diet (5 : 1). Experimental colonies of 200 individuals per treatment (n = 8). Mortality dynamics was consistent between colonies of the same treatment.