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How do ants learn socially by running side by side? Uncover the secrets behind this mysterious behavior!
In tiny corners of nature, ants and termites running side by side display complex social learning behaviors. This behavior is more than just about finding food; it involves social interaction and the transfer of experience, allowing ants and termites to more effectively stand out in the competition for survival. This article takes a deeper look at this mysterious behavior and the science behind it.
Definition and process of parallel running
Parallel running is the process where one ant guides another ant from the nest to the food source. During this process, the follower maintains contact by constantly touching the leader's legs and abdomen with its tentacles.
In their search for food, ants demonstrate one of the most interactive teachings among non-mammals.
The purpose of a leader is to help followers find food faster, and this also involves a certain cost. Followers do learn important navigational skills, especially when the leader slows down and pauses frequently to encourage the follower. After this teaching, followers are eventually able to quickly learn to find their way to food, which is undoubtedly a matter of time. Omitted.
How social cognition works
In ant society, experience is often more important than age. Experienced individuals are more likely to engage in parallel running, while younger individuals need time to accumulate knowledge and skills. Studies show that when leaders run in parallel, they keep their antennae low, allowing followers to navigate more accurately through tactile and chemical signals.
Independent exploration is the key to improving the efficiency of parallel running, and the transfer of experience and information depends on this process.
Independent exploration not only enhances the followers’ learning capabilities, but also makes future parallel runs more efficient. Through a single independent exploration, the follower can make improvements to the route, and these improvements will show their superiority in subsequent parallel runs.
Parallel running behavior in termites
Similar to ants, termites also have parallel running behavior, which is especially important during mating. Studies have found that in many termite species, females take the lead and emit sex pheromones to guide males, which undoubtedly shows the importance of the role of gender in this behavior.
During sexual selection, intense competition occurs between males participating in parallel running, as the male at the back usually has an advantage in accessing females.
This diversity of behavior, as well as changes in sexual roles, provides us with a deeper understanding of termite behavior. In either case, animals that engage in parallel running display unique adaptations in their political, social, and biological interactions.
Balance of costs and benefits
From a cost-effectiveness perspective, even though the leader spends four times as much time assisting the followers, the followers are always able to reach their destination faster than if they searched for food alone. This process not only shows the importance of group cooperation, but also reflects the wisdom and adaptability of organisms in the ecosystem.
The shortening of distance and the reduction of time once again prove the high efficiency of social learning.
However, during parallel running, if the follower loses contact with the leader, its direction-finding speed may drop by half. Although there may be loss in the process of independent exploration, this exploration is the key to improving the follower's future performance.
SummaryThe parallel running behavior of ants is not only a means of finding food, but also an evolved social learning method that embodies the interactivity and experience sharing between individuals. From a biological perspective, this behavior not only demonstrates the power of group collaboration, but also reveals the adaptability of organisms. This makes us think, what kind of wisdom and meaning are hidden behind every biological behavior?
