Volledige titel:
Individual and collective problem-solving in a foraging
context in the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica
Auteur(s):
Audrey Dussutour · Jean-Louis Deneubourg ·
Samuel Beshers · Vincent Fourcassié
Gepubliceerd in:
Animal Cognition
Jaar van publicatie:
2008
Abstract:
Abstract In this paper we investigate the flexibility of
foraging behavior in the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica,
both at the individual and collective levels, following a
change in the physical properties of their environment. We
studied in laboratory conditions the changes occurring in
foraging behavior when a height constraint was placed 1
cm above part of the trail linking the nest to the foraging
area. We found that the size and shape of the fragments of
foraging material brought back to the nest were signicantly
modified when the constraint was placed on the trail:
independent of their size, forager ants cut smaller and
rounder fragments in the presence of a height constraint
than in its absence. This size adjustment does not require
any direct sensory feedback because it occurred when the
ants cut fragments in the foraging area; no further cutting
was done when they encountered the constraint. This points
to the existence of a template that ants store and use as a
reference to adjust their reach while cutting. Remarkably,
despite the decrease in the foraging material brought to the
nest per capita the colony was still able to improve its foraging
performance by doubling the number of transporters.
This study illustrates the flexibility of foraging behavior
exhibited by an ant colony. It provides a rare example of
insects finding an intelligent solution to a problem occurring
in a foraging context, at both the individual and collective
levels.
Webadres:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/u47 ... lltext.pdf
Als je geen zin hebt om 't artikel te lezen, hier een leuke samenvatting:
http://noorderlicht.vpro.nl/artikelen/39777392/
Individual and collective problem-solving in a foraging
context in the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica
Auteur(s):
Audrey Dussutour · Jean-Louis Deneubourg ·
Samuel Beshers · Vincent Fourcassié
Gepubliceerd in:
Animal Cognition
Jaar van publicatie:
2008
Abstract:
Abstract In this paper we investigate the flexibility of
foraging behavior in the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica,
both at the individual and collective levels, following a
change in the physical properties of their environment. We
studied in laboratory conditions the changes occurring in
foraging behavior when a height constraint was placed 1
cm above part of the trail linking the nest to the foraging
area. We found that the size and shape of the fragments of
foraging material brought back to the nest were signicantly
modified when the constraint was placed on the trail:
independent of their size, forager ants cut smaller and
rounder fragments in the presence of a height constraint
than in its absence. This size adjustment does not require
any direct sensory feedback because it occurred when the
ants cut fragments in the foraging area; no further cutting
was done when they encountered the constraint. This points
to the existence of a template that ants store and use as a
reference to adjust their reach while cutting. Remarkably,
despite the decrease in the foraging material brought to the
nest per capita the colony was still able to improve its foraging
performance by doubling the number of transporters.
This study illustrates the flexibility of foraging behavior
exhibited by an ant colony. It provides a rare example of
insects finding an intelligent solution to a problem occurring
in a foraging context, at both the individual and collective
levels.
Webadres:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/u47 ... lltext.pdf
Als je geen zin hebt om 't artikel te lezen, hier een leuke samenvatting:
http://noorderlicht.vpro.nl/artikelen/39777392/
