2013 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Assessing assessing: numerical competence in ants
| Project/Area Number |
25440187
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Research Institution | Iwate University |
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Principal Investigator |
クロニン アダム 岩手大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 学術研究員 (30620489)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
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| Keywords | Social behaviour / Ants / Formicidae / consensus decisons / swarm intelligence / counting |
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| Research Abstract |
Research progresses well in 2013, resulting in the publication of two papers and considerable progress on several others now in production. Field work in Hokkaido was very successful, an additional population of ants was located near Chitose city, and these ants have been subject to numerous studies in the laboratory at Iwate University. Using individual paint marking, video tracking analysed with the assistance of Iwate University students, and, in conjunction with Martin Stumpe at Google USA, we have recently submitted a manuscript which analyses individual movements in the focal ant, Myrmecina nipponica, and is the first study to quantify individual contributions to consensus decisions making. I have also recently submitted a manuscript which investigates how quantity assessment ability scales with colony size in this species, demonstrating that this is subject to Weber's Law. This is the first investigation of numerical competence in ants in this context. This analysis made required a large dataset and made use of experiments conducted over the last year.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The work conducted with Martin Stumpe of Google has progressed much better than expected, and we now have an excellent data set which demonstrates clearly and for the first time that individuals in small groups work harder during group decision making. Determining how groups of different size modify behaviour at the individual level is critical to developing an understanding of swarm intelligence and self-organised processes. Ants are apparently able to assess their group size in real time and adjust their behaviour accordingly to produce coordinated responses at the group level. This study raises several additional questions which are being addressed at present. The studies of Weber’s law demonstrated a very clear relationship between ant’s ability to quantify the number of nest-mates and the absolute number of nest-mates present. That is, they demonstrate a ratio-dependence in their quantity discrimination abilities. This finding is the first of its kind, and has implications for a range of collective processes in group living animals. These results have become available earlier than expected as a result of the highly successful system for conducting and observing relocations using video and with analytical assistance from students.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Work in 2014 will follow the original plan but in a modified form based on the excellent findings in 2013. Because maintenance of colonies has been highly successful in the laboratory, it is deemed that additional field work in 2015 will not be required, but rather a focus will be applied to laboratory work. As a result, additional field work will be conducted in 2014. In addition, field work will be undertaken overseas in an effort to build on an established collaboration with researchers in France.
Work in 2015 will focus on laboratory studies using collections from 2014, as it is now clear that ants can be maintained successfully in the laboratory for at least 2 years. This will permit addition and intensive laboratory studies to be undertaken in 2015. Work will focus on isolating the mechanism via which ants are able to quantify. I will also be possible to estimate the extent to which each factor contributes to the positive feedback needed to generate the quorum response. These studies will build on the excellent results obtained in 2013 and incorporate further detailed tracking of individual actions during consensus decision making using the AnTracks software in collaboration with Martin Stumpe. Work combining mathematical and computer modelling in collaboration with French researchers will be finalised and submitted for publication.
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| Expenditure Plans for the Next FY Research Funding |
平成２５年度中の執行計画はほぼ満たすことができ、だが、小額の残額が出たので、来年度の研究費と併せて使用することにした。執行計画は年度初めに立てたため、このような結果になったが、ほぼ計画どおり執行した。
残額と平成２６年度の配分額を合わせ、平成２６年度の研究に活用する。具体的には、フランスでの実験・分析やオーストラリアでの学会参加に伴う費用に使用する。
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