From nonlinearity to optimality: pheromone trail foraging by ants

Sumpter, David J. T.; Beekman, Madeleine

doi:10.1006/anbe.2003.2224

Cited by 188 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…It is particularly well understood in ants, where such a mechanism leads to robustness and optimality in foraging response (25,26). For ants, however, the aim is to maximize group-level fitness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collegial decision making based on social amplification leads to optimal group formation

Amé

Halloy

Rivault

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

217

167

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Group-living animals are often faced with choosing between one or more alternative resource sites. A central question in such collective decision making includes determining which individuals induce the decision and when. This experimental and theoretical study of shelter selection by cockroach groups demonstrates that choices can emerge through nonlinear interaction dynamics between equal individuals without perfect knowledge or leadership. We identify a simple mechanism whereby a decision is taken on the move with limited information and signaling and without comparison of available opportunities. This mechanism leads to optimal mean benefit for group individuals. Our model points to a generic self-organized collective decision-making process independent of animal species.collective behavior ͉ nonlinear dynamics ͉ self-organization

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collegial decision making based on social amplification leads to optimal group formation

Amé

Halloy

Rivault

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

217

167

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Small initial differences in recruitment can arise by chance, or may be due to differential recruitment as a result of resource quality [2,[4][5][6][7][8] or other factors [9][10][11]. Such positive feedback loops lead to rapid group-level decisions, but can result in colonies becoming 'trapped' in suboptimal decisions, as the signal to one food source becomes too strong to be overcome [6,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negative feedback in ants: crowding results in less trail pheromone deposition

Czaczkes

Grüter

Ratnieks

2013

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Crowding in human transport networks reduces efficiency. Efficiency can be increased by appropriate control mechanisms, which are often imposed externally. Ant colonies also have distribution networks to feeding sites outside the nest and can experience crowding. However, ants do not have external controllers or leaders. Here, we report a self-organized negative feedback mechanism, based on local information, which downregulates the production of recruitment signals in crowded parts of a network by Lasius niger ants. We controlled crowding by manipulating trail width and the number of ants on a trail, and observed a 5.6-fold reduction in the number of ants depositing trail pheromone from least to most crowded conditions. We also simulated crowding by placing glass beads covered in nest-mate cuticular hydrocarbons on the trail. After 10 bead encounters over 20 cm, forager ants were 45 per cent less likely to deposit pheromone. The mechanism of negative feedback reported here is unusual in that it acts by downregulating the production of a positive feedback signal, rather than by direct inhibition or the production of an inhibitory signal.

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“…Foragers modulating their pheromone deposition according to food quality can help ant colonies avoid being trapped at a less rewarding site when a more rewarding one is available (de Biseau et al, 1991;Nicolis and Deneubourg, 1999;Sumpter and Beekman, 2003). Despite this, in mass recruiting species such as Lasius niger, colonies may be unable to switch to a more rewarding site which is found later (Beckers et al, 1990).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscript 21mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recruitment along a pheromone trail and choice at a trail bifurcation have been modelled using differential equations (Beckers et al, 1992a;Goss et al, 1989;Nicolis and Deneubourg, 1999;Pasteels et al, 1987;Sumpter and Beekman, 2003) and using agentbased models Edelstein-Keshet et al, 1995;Haefner and Crist, 1994;Stickland et al, 1992;Stickland et al, 1993). However, these models have assumed that mass recruitment involves just one type of trail pheromone, a positive attractive one.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An agent-based model to investigate the roles of attractive and repellent pheromones in ant decision making during foraging

Robinson

Ratnieks

Holcombe

2008

Journal of Theoretical Biology

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Pharaoh's ants organise their foraging system using three types of trail pheromone. All previous foraging models based on specific ant foraging systems have assumed that only a single attractive pheromone is used. Here we present an agent-based model based on trail choice at a trail bifurcation within the foraging trail network of a Pharaoh's ant colony which includes both attractive (positive) and repellent (negative) trail pheromones. Experiments have previously shown that Pharaoh's ants use both types of pheromone. We investigate how the repellent pheromone affects trail choice and foraging success in our simulated foraging system. We find that both the repellent and attractive pheromones have a role in trail choice, and that the repellent pheromone prevents random fluctuations which could otherwise lead to a positive feedback loop causing the colony to concentrate its foraging on the unrewarding trail. An emergent feature of the model is a high level of variability in the level of repellent pheromone on the unrewarding branch. This is caused by the repellent pheromone exerting negative feedback on its own A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t 2 deposition. We also investigate the dynamic situation where the location of the food is changed after foraging trails are established. We find that the repellent pheromone has a key role in enabling the colony to refocus the foraging effort to the new location. Our results show that having a repellent pheromone is adaptive, as it increases the robustness and flexibility of the colony's overall foraging response.

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From nonlinearity to optimality: pheromone trail foraging by ants

Cited by 188 publications

References 25 publications

Collegial decision making based on social amplification leads to optimal group formation

Collegial decision making based on social amplification leads to optimal group formation

Negative feedback in ants: crowding results in less trail pheromone deposition

An agent-based model to investigate the roles of attractive and repellent pheromones in ant decision making during foraging

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