Biologists have discovered another incredible skill of ants that put humans to shame—they have a special technique to avoid traffic jams.
Scientists from Texas Tech University and other institutions studied the 20-minute rhythms of the Leptothorax ant and discovered that their clever synchronization skills allowed them to avoid congestion. Their findings are published in a Proceedings of the Royal Society study.
After observing several Leptothorax nests for some time, it became clear that it was the ants' sudden bursts of activity, performed simultaneously, that allowed them to avoid these jams.
Ants are considered to be one of the smartest insects on Earth and are highly social. They are well known for their synchronization and complex behaviors, such as the way they collectively transport prey, their coordinated movements, and their "consensus-decision making when choosing a nest," the study reported.
For example, the critters are often observed walking in a straight line as they follow a chemical trail led by their leader. While the behavior may look surreal, it holds numerous benefits for the species. Scientists have long looked into these behaviors, but one that remains an enigma is the "collective activity rhythm" in several species.
During the study, the ants usually became active simultaneously every 20 to 200 minutes, before walking around inside of the nest, the study reported. Between these bursts of activity, the majority of the ants remained motionless. These motionless ants acted like immobile objects that blocked the paths of others.
Scientists are still debating the exact benefits this holds; however, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that these synchronized rhythms aim to reduce the risk of immobile obstacles that may be within the nest, which could cause "traffic jams."
Overall, they found that these bursts of movement did lead to better spatial accessibility inside the ant nest. These results show that synchronizing moments of activity and rest can lead to better spatial accessibility inside ant nests.
"Inactive ants behave as immobile obstacles that constrain the potential locations where active ants can walk. The synchronization of worker activity thereby makes it possible for ants to be active in more regions of the nest as more ants become active," the study read.
Previous studies have already found that ants have techniques to prevent overcrowding, particularly when making their way to a food source. A 2019 study published in eLife found that Argentine ants adjusted their speeds and avoided entering areas with high density whenever they sensed overcrowding. This made it possible to prevent congestion and subsequent traffic jams.
The scientists hypothesized that this may be made easier by their ability to follow each other's pheromones.
This new study broadened the understanding of these synchronized biological rhythms and how they work to benefit social animals.
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