Principles of Traffic Organization in Ant Transportation Networks
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Date
2024-01-09
Authors
Kittell, Justin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Collectively, a colony of ants can execute complex and highly organized behaviors, not least of which is the formation of ant ‘paths’ - the steady bidirectional flow of individuals and resources that provides the colony with nutrients. This bidirectionality necessitates the organization of opposing fluxes, with the choice of organizational scheme impacting the energetic efficiency of the colony. In this work, we perform an experimental investigation into the organizational principles employed by the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes under varying levels of lateral confinement. We first extract the statistical properties of the unconfined path via automated imaging and analysis. This characterization is a critical first step in understanding the steady state organization resulting from ant behavior alone. We then explore how the behavior and resulting path properties evolve for the same path under different levels of confinement. This analysis reveals direct quantitative evidence of a three-lane structures, as well as simple examples of energetic optimization at critical widths. Finally, we verify the origin of these structures through simulation of a 'null' model for insect behavior, revealing that the organization demonstrated by Atta cephalotes foragers under confinement results from changes in individual behavior, not solely from ant-wall or ant-ant interaction. This analysis provides a framework for understanding the behavioral trends of a natural transportation system in terms of energetic optimization, with potential impacts on the development of autonomous networks in human engineered systems.
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Keywords
ants, energy, imaging, laning, optimization, traffic