Chang, Joanna, Powell, Scott, Robinson, Elva Joan Hilda orcid.org/0000-0003-4914-9327 et al. (1 more author) (2021) Nest choice in arboreal ants is an emergent consequence of network creation under spatial constraints. Swarm Intelligence. pp. 7-30. ISSN 1935-3820
Abstract
Biological transportation networks must balance competing functional priorities. The selforganizing mechanisms used to generate such networks have inspired scalable algorithms to construct and maintain low-cost and efficient human-designed transport networks. The pheromone-based trail networks of ants have been especially valuable in this regard. Here, we use turtle ants as our focal system: In contrast to the ant species usually used as models for self-organized networks, these ants live in a spatially constrained arboreal environment where both nesting options and connecting pathways are limited. Thus, they must solve a distinct set of challenges which resemble those faced by human transport engineers constrained by existing infrastructure. Here, we ask how a turtle ant colony’s choice of which nests to include in a network may be influenced by their potential to create connections to other nests. In laboratory experiments with Cephalotes varians and Cephalotes texanus, we show that nest choice is influenced by spatial constraints, but in unexpected ways. Under one spatial configuration, colonies preferentially occupied more connected nest sites; however, under another spatial configuration, this preference disappeared. Comparing the results of these experiments to an agent-based model, we demonstrate that this apparently idiosyncratic relationship between nest connectivity and nest choice can emerge without nest preferences via a combination of self-reinforcing random movement along constrained pathways and density-dependent aggregation at nests. While this mechanism does not consistently lead to the de-novo construction of low-cost, efficient transport networks, it may be an effective way to expand a network, when coupled with processes of pruning and restructuring.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2021 |
Keywords: | foraging,network structures,social networks,network efficiency,network robustness,self-organisation,pheromones,agent-based model,ants,social insects |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION n/a |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 01 Mar 2021 14:40 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 17:23 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11721-021-00187-5 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s11721-021-00187-5 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:171654 |
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Description: Nest choice in arboreal ants is an emergent consequence of network creation under spatial constraints
Licence: CC-BY 2.5