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Flexible Foraging of Ants under Unsteadily Varying Environment

Tomomi Tao·Hiroyuki Nakagawa·Masato Yamasaki·Hiraku Nishimori
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Abstract

Using a simple model for the trail formation of ants, the relation between i)the schedule of feeding which represents the unsteady natural environment, ii)emerging patterns of trails connecting a nest with food resources, and iii)the foraging efficiency is studied. Simulations and a simple analysis show that the emergent trail pattern flexibly varies depending on the feeding schedule by which ants can make an efficient foraging according to the underlying unsteady environment.

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Tomomi Tao, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Masato Yamasaki, Hiraku Nishimori. 2004-07-05. Flexible Foraging of Ants under Unsteadily Varying Environment. https://doi.org/10.1143/jpsj.73.2333

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