Couzin I D, Franks N R
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Proc Biol Sci. 2003 Jan 22;270(1511):139-46. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2210.
We show how the movement rules of individual ants on trails can lead to a collective choice of direction and the formation of distinct traffic lanes that minimize congestion. We develop and evaluate the results of a new model with a quantitative study of the behaviour of the army ant Eciton burchelli. Colonies of this species have up to 200 000 foragers and transport more than 3000 prey items per hour over raiding columns that exceed 100 m. It is an ideal species in which to test the predictions of our model because it forms pheromone trails that are densely populated with very swift ants. The model explores the influences of turning rates and local perception on traffic flow. The behaviour of real army ants is such that they occupy the specific region of parameter space in which lanes form and traffic flow is maximized.
我们展示了蚁群中个体蚂蚁在踪迹上的移动规则如何导致方向的集体选择以及形成不同的交通车道，从而将拥堵降至最低。我们通过对布氏游蚁（Eciton burchelli）行为的定量研究，开发并评估了一个新模型的结果。该物种的蚁群有多达20万只觅食蚁，每小时通过超过100米的突袭纵队运输3000多个猎物。它是测试我们模型预测的理想物种，因为它形成了信息素踪迹，上面密集地分布着行动非常迅速的蚂蚁。该模型探讨了转向率和局部感知对交通流量的影响。真实的布氏游蚁的行为使得它们占据了参数空间中的特定区域，在这个区域中会形成车道且交通流量最大化。
