Spatial organization and interactions of harvester ants during foraging activity.

ABSTRACT: Local interactions, when individuals meet, can regulate collective behaviour. In a system without any central control, the rate of interaction may depend simply on how the individuals move around. But interactions could in turn influence movement; individuals might seek out interactions, or their movement in response to interaction could influence further interaction rates. We develop a general framework to address these questions, using collision theory to establish a baseline expected rate of interaction based on proximity. We test the models using data from harvester ant colonies. A colony uses feedback from interactions inside the nest to regulate foraging activity. Potential foragers leave the nest in response to interactions with returning foragers with food. The time series of inter

SUBMITTER: Davidson JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5665826 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature