Path efficiency of ant foraging trails in an artificial network
Authored by Guy Theraulaz, K Vittori, G Talbot, J Gautrais, V Fourcassie, AFR Araujo
Date Published: 2006
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2005.08.017
Sponsors:
European Union
FAPESP
Platforms:
Scilab
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
In this paper we present an individual-based model describing the
foraging behavior of ants moving in an artificial network of tunnels in
which several interconnected paths can be used to reach a single food
source. Ants lay a trail pheromone while moving in the network and this
pheromone acts as a system of mass recruitment that attracts other ants
in the network. The rules implemented in the model are based on measures
of the decisions taken by ants at tunnel bifurcations during real
experiments. The collective choice of the ants is estimated by measuring
their probability to take a given path in the network. Overall, we found
a good agreement between the results of the simulations and those of the
experiments, showing that simple behavioral rules can lead ants to find
the shortest paths in the network. The match between the experiments and
the model, however, was better for nestbound than for outbound ants. A
sensitivity study of the model suggests that the bias observed in the
choice of the ants at asymmetrical bifurcations is a key behavior to
reproduce the collective choice observed in the experiments. (c) 2005
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
behavior
Dynamics
selection
Argentine ant
Hymenoptera
Lasius-niger
Formicidae