Abstract
The branching angles of the ant Messor barbarus (L.) trunk trails are studied in relation to their intraspecific competitive environment and surrounding vegetation cover. Both factors appear to play a significant role in branching angle size. We propose that a principle of optimality acts to minimize foraging costs in terms of fighting risk or difficulties imposed on the mobility of the individual forager ants. Our results coincide with a compromise between the advantages of trunk trail and the shortest way of return to the nest.
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