When a key resource disappears: What wood ant networks can teach us
Hun-Ren Ökológiai KutatóközpontAt first glance, the world of ants may seem far removed from our everyday lives. Yet, on closer inspection, they often face surprisingly similar challenges. They live in complex societies where the functioning of a colony relies on tightly organised logistical networks. These networks are structured around key resources and must be both efficient and resilient to disturbances. Wood ants (Formica lugubris) are particularly fascinating in this respect, as they operate genuine transport networks in forest ecosystems.
In our research, we investigated how these ant networks respond to disturbances. What happens when a key resource disappears from the system, and what happens when only a less important food source is lost? The results not only reveal much about the lives of ants, but also provide broader insights into how self-organising networks function in nature and even in human society.
- Journal
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
- Funder
- NSF award, The field data were collected under studentships funded by the NERC ACCE DTP and the National Trust., NSF award: Dynamic ant networks: How environmental constraints and ecological context shape resource transport systems