Modeling ant foraging: A chemotaxis approach with pheromones and trail formation

2014/09/30 by Paulo Amorim
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Aculeata #Biological system #Biology #Chemotaxis #Computer science #Ecology #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics #Foraging #Formicoidea #Hymenoptera #Mathematical Biology Tumor Growth #Mathematical optimization #Mathematics #Pattern formation #Population #Simple (philosophy) #Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research #msc:35K-57 #msc:92D-40 #msc:92D-50 #nlin.AO #q-bio.PE

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.08.026

arxiv created 2015/06/22 · openalex publication_date 2015/09/08 · arxiv updated 2015/10/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We consider a continuous mathematical description of a population of ants and simulate numerically their foraging behavior using a system of partial differential equations of chemotaxis type. We show that this system accurately reproduces observed foraging behavior, especially spontaneous trail formation and efficient removal of food sources. We show through numerical experiments that trail formation is correlated with efficient food removal. Our results illustrate the emergence of trail formation from simple modeling principles.

Citations

• A user’s guide to PDE models for chemotaxis
• Self-organized lane formation and optimized traffic flow in army ants
• Model for chemotaxis
• Smells like home: Desert ants, Cataglyphis fortis, use olfactory landmarks to pinpoint the nest
• Desert ant navigation: how miniature brains solve complex tasks