Zinc kinetics in the ant Myrmica rubra originating from a metal pollution gradient

► We model Zn kinetics in wild populations of the ant Myrmica rubra originating from a post-mining metal-polluted area. ► Workers of M. rubra were exposed to dietary Zn (1000 mg kg−1) for a 80 day uptake period followed by 30 days of clean food. ► The kinetics parameters in all study sites were insignificant due to efficient Zn regulation. ► No adaptive alterations of metal uptake or excretion were found in M. rubra.