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Optimal Foraging in Seed‐Harvester Ants: Computer‐Aided Simulation
Author(s) -
Lopez Joaquin L. Reyes
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1939855
Subject(s) - foraging , formicoidea , yield (engineering) , limit (mathematics) , optimal foraging theory , ecology , environmental science , simulation , computer science , mathematics , biology , aculeata , materials science , hymenoptera , mathematical analysis , metallurgy
This paper presents a computer—aided simulation of foraging behavior in seed—harvester ant species. The simulation is based on regression studies of running speed, net cost of transport, worker size, load mass, and distance. The results show that, as a function of its size, each worker has a maximum transport yield and an upper load limit. For yields other than this maximum, those obtained by larger workers transporting small loads are less than those obtained if the same loads are transported by smaller workers. In addition, there are two possible load sizes for the same yield.