title: An empirically based simulation of group foraging in the harvesting ant, Messor pergandei.
abstract: We present an empirically based group model of foraging interactions in Messor pergandei, the Sonoran desert harvesting ant. M. pergandei colonies send out daily foraging columns consisting of tens of thousands of individual ants. Each day, the directions of the columns may change depending on the resource availability and the neighbor interactions. If neighboring columns meet, ants fight, and subsequent foraging is suppressed. M. pergandei colonies face a general problem which is present in many systems: dynamic spatial partitioning in a constantly changing environment, while simultaneously minimizing negative competitive interactions with multiple neighbors. Our simulation model of a population of column foragers is spatially explicit and includes neighbor interactions. We study how different behavioral strategies influence resource exploitation and space use for different nest distributions and densities. Column foraging in M. pergandei is adapted to the spatial and temporal properties of their natural habitat. Resource and space use is maximized both at the colony and the population level by a model with a behavioral strategy including learning and fast forgetting rates.
authors: School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874501, Tempe 85287, AZ, USA. Electronic address: Nicola.Plowes@asu.edu.
authors: Nicola J R
authors: NJ
authors: Plowes
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Ramsch
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Middendorf
authors: Bert
authors: B
authors: Hölldobler
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000502:physiology*; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D009068:Movement; D012919:Social Behavior; D013731:Territoriality; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Animal contests; Group model; Resource exploitation; Self-organized conflict; Territoriality