Grah Gunnar, Wehner Rüdiger, Ronacher Bernhard
Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, D 10099 Berlin, Germany.
J Exp Biol. 2005 Nov;208(Pt 21):4005-11. doi: 10.1242/jeb.01873.
In this study, we investigate the ability of desert ants to gauge the ground distances of sloped sections in a three-dimensional (3D) outbound path. Ground distance estimation, as opposed to a simple measurement of walking distances, is a necessary prerequisite for precise path integration in undulating terrain. We trained ants to visit a feeder along a path that included an angular turn as well as a 'hill', resulting in an outbound path with a distinct 3D structure. We then observed the ants' return path in a test field on level ground. From the angles of the ants' return path on the test field one can infer which property of the hill segment was fed into the ants' path integration module, the actual walking distance or the ground distance. The results show clearly that it is the ground distance that Cataglyphis fortis feeds into its path integrator, and suggest that the ants are able to keep an accurate home vector also in hilly terrain.
在本研究中，我们探究了沙漠蚂蚁在三维（3D）外出路径中测量斜坡部分地面距离的能力。与简单测量行走距离不同，地面距离估计是在起伏地形中进行精确路径积分的必要前提。我们训练蚂蚁沿着一条包含转角和“小山丘”的路径前往喂食器，从而形成一条具有独特3D结构的外出路径。然后，我们在平坦地面的测试区域观察蚂蚁的返回路径。从测试区域中蚂蚁返回路径的角度，可以推断出小山丘部分的哪个属性被输入到蚂蚁的路径积分模块中，是实际行走距离还是地面距离。结果清楚地表明，强壮弓背蚁输入到其路径积分器中的是地面距离，这表明蚂蚁在丘陵地形中也能够保持准确的归巢向量。
