Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods
Synchronization is a prevalent phenomenon in biological systems, including social insects such as ants. Certain ant species exhibit remarkable synchronization of their activities within the nest. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this coordinated behavior, we propose an integro-differential...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Mathematics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/24/3893 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850037384825012224 |
|---|---|
| author | Pedro M. M. da Silveira José F. Fontanari |
| author_facet | Pedro M. M. da Silveira José F. Fontanari |
| author_sort | Pedro M. M. da Silveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Synchronization is a prevalent phenomenon in biological systems, including social insects such as ants. Certain ant species exhibit remarkable synchronization of their activities within the nest. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this coordinated behavior, we propose an integro-differential equation model that captures the autocatalytic nature of ant activation. Active ants can stimulate inactive individuals, leading to a cascade of arousal. By incorporating a stochastic component to represent variability in rest periods, we explore the conditions necessary for synchronization. Our analysis reveals a critical threshold for fluctuations in rest duration. Exceeding this threshold disrupts synchronization, driving the system towards a stable equilibrium. These findings offer valuable insights into the factors governing ant activity synchronization and highlight the delicate balance between model parameters required to generate rhythmic patterns. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f786f307ada84860ba833b8cd34c06bc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mathematics |
| spelling | doaj-art-f786f307ada84860ba833b8cd34c06bc2025-08-20T02:56:52ZengMDPI AGMathematics2227-73902024-12-011224389310.3390/math12243893Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest PeriodsPedro M. M. da Silveira0José F. Fontanari1Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 369, São Carlos 13560-970, SP, BrazilInstituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 369, São Carlos 13560-970, SP, BrazilSynchronization is a prevalent phenomenon in biological systems, including social insects such as ants. Certain ant species exhibit remarkable synchronization of their activities within the nest. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this coordinated behavior, we propose an integro-differential equation model that captures the autocatalytic nature of ant activation. Active ants can stimulate inactive individuals, leading to a cascade of arousal. By incorporating a stochastic component to represent variability in rest periods, we explore the conditions necessary for synchronization. Our analysis reveals a critical threshold for fluctuations in rest duration. Exceeding this threshold disrupts synchronization, driving the system towards a stable equilibrium. These findings offer valuable insights into the factors governing ant activity synchronization and highlight the delicate balance between model parameters required to generate rhythmic patterns.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/24/3893synchronizationcollective behaviorfunctional equationsfixed-point analysis |
| spellingShingle | Pedro M. M. da Silveira José F. Fontanari Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods Mathematics synchronization collective behavior functional equations fixed-point analysis |
| title | Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods |
| title_full | Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods |
| title_fullStr | Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods |
| title_short | Synchronized Rhythmic Activity of Ants with Distributed Rest Periods |
| title_sort | synchronized rhythmic activity of ants with distributed rest periods |
| topic | synchronization collective behavior functional equations fixed-point analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/12/24/3893 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pedrommdasilveira synchronizedrhythmicactivityofantswithdistributedrestperiods AT joseffontanari synchronizedrhythmicactivityofantswithdistributedrestperiods |