A Data-Driven Simulation of the Trophallactic Network and Intranidal Food Flow Dissemination in Ants.

ABSTRACT: Food sharing can occur in both social and non-social species, but it is crucial in eusocial species, in which only some group members collect food. This food collection and the intranidal (i.e., inside the nest) food distribution through trophallactic (i.e., mouth-to-mouth) exchanges are fundamental in eusocial insects. However, the behavioural rules underlying the regulation and the dynamics of food intake and the resulting networks of exchange are poorly understood. In this study, we provide new insights into the behavioural rules underlying the structure of trophallactic networks and food dissemination dynamics within the colony. We build a simple data-driven model that implements interindividual variability and the division of labour to investigate the processes of food accumulation/di

SUBMITTER: Bles O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9655576 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature