Colony (biology)

In biology, a colony is a group of two or more individuals of the same kind living closely together or connected to one another. This close living together usually helps them stay safer or catch bigger food.

Colonies can look different depending on the living things involved. For example, a bacterial colony is a group of identical cells that grow on a surface, often starting from just one parent cell.

Some living things can live alone but choose to form colonies when conditions change, while others must live in colonies to survive. For example, some carpenter bees form colonies when they create a hierarchy, and corals are animals that are connected by tissue and share a space for digestion.

Types

Social colonies

Some tiny living things and animals can come together to form groups called colonies. For example:

• Tiny organisms called protists, like slime molds, join together when food is scarce. Together, they can better find food.
• Social insects such as ants and honey bees live in organized groups with special roles.
• Some birds and mammals also form groups, like nests, to help protect their young and find mates. The Bracken Cave is home to a huge group of about 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest known group of mammals.

Modular organisms

Some living things can grow by making exact copies of themselves. These copies are called clones. For example, some sea anemones can create new copies from pieces of their bodies. In plants, exact copies can grow from stems or roots.

Clonal colony

A clonal colony is a group of exact copies that come from one parent. These copies can live on their own or need help from others. In plants, these copies grow from stems or roots.

Colonial organisms

Colonial organisms are groups of connected copies that depend on each other. They can be made of tiny cells, like the alga Volvox, or of more complex animals, like those in the group Bryozoa. Being connected helps them share food and energy. The Portuguese man o' war is a well-known example of a colonial organism.

Microbial colonies

A microbial colony is a group of tiny living things, all coming from one parent, that grow together on a surface. Because they all come from one parent, they are almost exactly the same. Growing these colonies can help scientists study them. A biofilm is a group of different tiny living things that work together and can do more than any single one alone.

Ontogeny in eusocial insects

Colony ontogeny describes how a group of insects, like ants and bees, grows and changes from when it first starts until it becomes a full-grown colony. This process can take different amounts of time and look different depending on the type of insect and where it lives. Things like food, other insects around, and weather can all affect how the colony grows.

For insects that live and work together, such as ants and bees, there are several key steps in how their colony develops. In the beginning, one or a few females, called queens, start a new nest and lay the first eggs. These queens also take care of the eggs and bring in food. As the eggs grow, they become workers. These workers help by finding food, caring for the young, and keeping the nest clean. At first, there are only a few workers, but as the colony gets bigger, more workers join and start doing special jobs. Some workers might focus on finding food, while others protect the nest or take care of the young insects.

Later, the colony creates new queens and males. These new insects can leave the nest to start their own colonies, helping to continue the group. Over time, a colony might get weaker and eventually stop growing. Sometimes, if the main queen dies, another queen or even a worker might take over to keep the colony going.

Life history

In social colonies, living together helps individuals find food more easily, protect their homes, and compete better with other species. This way of living can make tasks easier for everyone.

Some organisms can reproduce without needing a partner, which saves energy. This saved energy can be used to grow the colony, replace parts that are lost, or respond to changes in the environment. In social colonies, the energy costs of having offspring are shared among many individuals, making it easier for the group.