Territorial strategies in ants

Abstract

Functioning of developed (definitive) social systems in ants is impossible without formation of a complex of interrelated supporting structures and methods, regulating forager activity in the territory, in other words, without formation of the infrastructure. In dependence of the territorial strategy, different infrastructures are formed; each of them possesses specific features. Four types of infrastructure are described. The tunnel-based infrastructure is characterized by the use of tunnels (Solenopsis invicta is a typical representative). The road-based infrastructure is characterized by the use of constant roads (Formica s. str.). The nomadic infrastructure is characterized by a constant change of family habitats (army ants). The orbital infrastructure is characterized by the multivariant access of foragers to sites of the secondary subdivision of the territory (Formica exsecta). The types of infrastructure are compared according to the following parameters:cost of raising and maintaining, dynamics of elements, the degree of forager protection, level of territory exploitation, and capacity. An assumption on the influence of the type of infrastructure on ant behavior is made.