« Previous AbstractImpact of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata on different peach cultivars: the possible role of peach volatile compounds    Next AbstractMicrotubules viewed as molecular ant colonies »

J Theor Biol

Title:		Balancing organization and flexibility in foraging dynamics
Author(s):		Tabone M; Ermentrout B; Doiron B;
Address:		"Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA"
Journal Title:		J Theor Biol
Year:		2010
Volume:		20100711
Issue:		3
Page Number:		391 - 400
DOI:		10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.07.004
ISSN/ISBN:		1095-8541 (Electronic) 0022-5193 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Proper pattern organization and reorganization are central problems facing many biological networks which thrive in fluctuating environments. However, in many cases the mechanisms that organize system activity oppose those that support behavioral flexibility. Thus, a balance between pattern organization and pattern flexibility is critically important for overall biological fitness. We study this balance in the foraging strategies of ant colonies exploiting food in dynamic environments. We present discrete time and space simulations of colony activity that uses a pheromone-based recruitment strategy biasing foraging towards a food source. After food relocation, the pheromone must evaporate sufficiently before foraging can shift colony attention to a new food source. The amount of food consumed within the dynamic environment depends non-monotonically on the pheromone evaporation time constant-with maximal consumption occurring at a time constant which balances trail formation and trail flexibility. A deterministic, 'mean field' model of pheromone and foragers on trails mimics our colony simulations. This reduced framework captures the essence of the flexibility-organization balance, and relates optimal pheromone evaporation to the timescale of the dynamic environment. We expect that the principles exposed in our study will generalize and motivate novel analysis across a broad range systems biology"
Keywords:		"*Algorithms Animal Migration/physiology Animals Ants/metabolism/physiology Eating/physiology Ecosystem Environment Feeding Behavior/*physiology Female Male *Models, Biological Pheromones/metabolism/*physiology Population Dynamics Time Factors;"
Notes:		"MedlineTabone, Michaelangelo Ermentrout, Bard Doiron, Brent eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2010/07/16 J Theor Biol. 2010 Oct 7; 266(3):391-400. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.07.004. Epub 2010 Jul 11"