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An Investigation Of Variables That Affect Foraging In The Leaf-Cutting Ant, Atta Cephalotes (Formicidae), Kati Buckingham
An Investigation Of Variables That Affect Foraging In The Leaf-Cutting Ant, Atta Cephalotes (Formicidae), Kati Buckingham
WWU Honors College Senior Projects
Efficient foraging methods are essential to colony survival in the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes. One parameter of efficiency is the speed at which laden foragers return to the nest. This study examines the effects of ant size, load size, trail activity, and the number of collisions an ant incurs with other ants or objects on velocity for four A. cephalotes colonies in Costa Rica. Multiple linear regression analysis yielded a model which suggests that velocity decreases as loading index and the number of collisions increase. Results of a theoretical analysis using the regression model indicate that the ants select …