Studies of division of labour: neither physics nor stamp collecting
Article Abstract:
Studies of division of labour in social insects lack exclusive focus on uniqueness and history as in physics or stamp collecting, and are based on the premise of commonness among unique insect species. Criticisms of James F.A. Traniello, Rebeca B. Rosengaus, Simon K. Robson and Samuel N. Beshers on the foraging for work algorithm reflect an inadequate understanding of the mathematical model and the concept of age-based division of labour. Some of the drawbacks of the criticisms include erroneous interpretation of temporal polyethism, and algorithm's formulation, assumptions and properties.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Division of labour and 'foraging for work': simulating reality versus the reality of simulations
Article Abstract:
N.R. Franks and C. Tofts' simulations of foraging for work algorithm to explain reality of aged-based division of labour in social insects suffer from numerous drawbacks, and offer inadequate and unreal simulation results. Franks and Tofts fail to refute the existence of a causal link between age and behavior due to lack of a formal mathematical proof. The mathematical model looses its claimed flexible, robust and efficient explanation of division of labor due to an inadequate algorithm system, circular arguments and a lack of focus on biological aspects of insects.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Demonstrating new social interactions in ant colonies through randomization tests: separating seeing from believing
Article Abstract:
Different Leptothorax unifasciatus colonies were studied to determine the presence of spatial associations between single queens and individually marked workers. The results showed that the queen tended to be the adult ant closest to the center of the egg pile and that she usually had the smallest spatial fidelity zone, which did not vary in size seasonally like that of worker L. unifasciatus.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Division of labour. Targeted cancer therapy. A loss-of-function RNA interference screen for molecular targets in cancer
- Abstracts: Intramuscular and intravenous immobilization of juvenile southern elephant seals. Estimating body mass and condition of leopard seals by allometrics
- Abstracts: Bush asks for more physics - again. The first cut. Panel negotiates climate 'synthesis report'
- Abstracts: Direct observation of the superfluid phase transition in ultracold Fermi gases. A superconductor to superfluid phase transition in liquid metallic hydrogen
- Abstracts: A window of opportunity is opened for Italian reforms. Italian minister faces short spell, hot seat. Economist promises aid to Italian research