Running above the others

2007/05/28 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Zoologia

In the University of Bristol, ants have been studied that deal with the soil holes. The holes bother ants to bring food to the anteater. Therefore, in the area where the hole is, one (or several) ant is inserted so that the rest can pass above it. Thus, transporting ants can move faster, as on a road without holes. The ants that cover the holes are also transporters, so they have to choose the ants: cover the holes or, without covering, transport all the specimens. The biologists of Bristol have studied the decision taken by the ants of Eciton burchelii; the biologists have caused them to pass through a path full of holes and have seen that the decision of the insects is favorable to cover the holes. Thus, the transport speed of the group increases considerably and, in the long term, the amount of food that reaches the tingling is greater if there are no obstacles. Scott Powell