Data for: An agent-based model shows zombie ants turn frequently before death
Published: 1 June 2021| Version 1 | DOI: 10.17632/nmgz9kp8t8.1
Contributor:
Natalie ImirzianDescription
Zombie ants are ants manipulated by a fungal parasite (Ophiocordyceps sp.) to leave the nest and die biting the underside of a leaf. From there, the fungus grows from the ant and distributes spores to new ants. The model recreates how infected ants are walking from the nest to the biting locations. By altering the movement parameters of the ants, we investigate how walking style influences whether ants frequently end up on the biting locations. The model uses field data to inform the model setup, using 4 different nests with the real locations of the ant nest, foraging trails, and cadaver biting locations.
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Categories
Entomology, Parasitism, Agent-Based Modeling