1	Anting and Antibiotics Stephen E. Kacir
2	Active Anting Ants are pressed upon and drawn against the feathers
3	Passive Anting Ants are allowed to crawl through the feathers
4	Anting Trivia Over 145 species of birds documented Myrmicine and Formicine Ants are more often used in anting Anting with Substitutes Vinegar Citrus Mothballs Bees Beer Smoke-bathing & Fire-bathing
5	Hypotheses Food Storage Food Preparation Autoerotic Stimulation Removal of Stale Lipids Molt Relief Antibiotics Arthropods Fungi Bacteria
6	Obtain Bacteria from Birds Spore-forming Rods NonSpore-forming Rods Cocci Staphylococci Coliforms
7	Antibiotics Testing Ant Secretions Indole-3-acetic Acid (IAA) Phenylacetic Acid (PAA) Formic Acid Controls Water Ethanol
8	Mean Zones of Inhibition IAA: 11.0 mm PAA: 15.5 mm Formic Acid: 38.5 mm Water: 1.73 mm Ethanol: 2.27 mm
9	Revis & Waller (2004) Crushed Ant Extractions Hexanol Ant Extractions Tested against Fungi & Bacteria Criticism Dilution Freezing Ants Limited Bacterial Diversity
10	Conclusions Still a mystery! Field study is difficult Need better methods for obtaining ant secretions
11	References Burtt E. H. Jr., Ichida J. M. 1999. Occurrence of feather-degrading bacilli in the plumage of birds. Auk. 116:364–372. Chisholm, AH. 1959. The History of Anting. Emu 59: 101-130. Ehrlich, PR, DS Dobkin, & D Wheye. 1986. The Adaptive Significance of Anting. Auk 103: 835. Ivor, HR. The Enigma of Bird Anting. 1956. Nat. Geogr. Mag. 110: 105-119. Potter, EF. 1970. Anting in Wild Birds, Its Frequency and Probable Purpose. Auk 87: 692-713. Revis, HC & DA Waller. Bactericidal and Fungicidal Activity of Ant Chemicals on Feather Parasites: An Evaluation of Anting Behavior as a Method of Self-medication in Songbirds. Auk 121: 1262-1268 Simmons, KEL. 1957. A Review of Anting-behavior in Passerine Birds. Brit. Birds 50:401-424.
12	Acknowledgements Dr. EH Burtt, Jr. and Jann Ichida were instrumental in the development and implementation of this study. Funds for much of the work were provided by the Howard Hughes Summer Research Program. The work was performed at Ohio Wesleyan University within the auspices of the Departments of Zoology and Botany/Microbiology. Photos were obtained from the following websites: http://bugguide.net/node/view/14956, http://www.myrmecos.net/myrmicinae/CreLin1.html, http://myrmecology.info/MyrmecologyGallery/nfpicturepro/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=&pos=-293, and Feather Mite photo from: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/press_office/bulletin/23nov01/article22.shtml Anting photos were from the HR Ivor National Geographic Article.