Population model of Temnothorax albipennis as a distributed dynamical system: I. self-consistent threshold is an emergent property in combination of quorum sensing and chemical perception of limited resource

Abstract

House hunting of ant, such as Temnothorax albipennis, has been shown to be a distributed dynamical system. Such a system includes agent-based algorithm [1], with agents in different roles including nest exploration, nest assessment, quorum sensing, and brood item transportation. Such an algorithm, if used properly, can be applied on artificial intelligent system, like robotic swarms. Despite of its complexity, we are focusing on the quorum sensing mechanism, which is also observed in bacteria model. In bacterial model, multiple biochemical networks co-exist within each cell, including binding of autoinducer and cognate receptors, and phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle. In ant hunting, we also have ant commitment to the nest, mimicking binding between autoinducer and cognate receptors. We also have assessment ant specific to one nest and information exchange between two assessment ants corresponding to different nests, which is similar process to the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle in bacteria quorum sensing network. Due to the similarity between the two models, we borrow the idea from bacteria quorum sensing to clarify the definition of quorum threshold through biological plausible mechanism related to limited resource model. We further made use of the contraction analysis to explore the trade-off between decision split and decision consensus within ant population. Our work provides new generation model for understanding how ant adapt to the changing environment during quorum sensing.

Robotic communication with ants

“…In common with mass recruitment, tandem running in Temnothorax ants may actually involve some trail laying by the leading ant ( Basari et al, 2014b ), but such trails are neither slavishly followed nor reinforced; rather, they may serve as safety lines to help ensure that individuals do not become lost ( Mcleman et al, 2002 ; Pratt et al, 2001 ). Behavioural studies have suggested which pheromone glands are used by Temnothorax ants for communication in different circumstances ( Möglich, 1979 ; Möglich et al, 1974 ; Morgan, 2008 ; Provost et al, 1993 ; Qiu, 2021 preprint; Sasaki et al, 2020 ). However, we agree with Sasaki et al (2014) that little is known of the pheromone chemistry of Temnothorax .…”