NetLogo User Community Models

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Download If clicking does not initiate a download, try right clicking or control clicking and choosing "Save" or "Download".(The run link is disabled for this model because it was made in a version prior to NetLogo 6.0, which NetLogo Web requires.)

WHAT IS IT?

This model simulates quorum sensing in ants while nest site selection and also demonstrates the relation between quorum number and time taken in quorum sensing.

HOW IT WORKS

It works on the concepts of swarm intelligence where each ant observe the number of other ants it has encountered each time when it visits a new nest. and if number of encountered ants exceeds quorum number then all the informed ants switches their recruing mode from forward tandem run to transport

HOW TO USE IT

First set all the parameters eg. population,area,distance and quorum number and then press setup. Finally press GO to start the simulation. You can vary the speed of simulation with help of the timestep slider on top of the screen.

THINGS TO NOTICE

This model uses different colour code for each type of ant
Scout ant (who hasn't encountered any nest) : Red
Recruiter ant (who has found a nest and looking for other ants to recruit): Orange
Passive ant (who doesn't participate in selection of new nest): Brown
Leader ant (recruiter who has found other ant and recruiting it to new nest):Blue
Follower ant (passive or scout ant who is following leader ant): Black

THINGS TO TRY

Try to vary quorum number,distance,area,population and observe it's effect over plotted graph

EXTENDING THE MODEL

This model is beiing extended for multiple nest where selection of a new and best nest site is modelled.

NETLOGO FEATURES

This model has more complidcated code but netlogo was the best platform to implement the idea.

RELATED MODELS

Some models related to foraging are not much related to this model but ant movement in some stages of simulation matches to them.

CREDITS AND REFERENCES

This model is developed by following some important articles on nest site selection.
http://www.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/uploads/media/nest-size_selection_in_ants_01.pdf
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1518/845.full