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Efficiency and robustness in ant networks of galleries

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  • J. Buhl
  • J. Gautrais
  • R. Solé
  • P. Kuntz
  • S. Valverde
  • J. Deneubourg
  • G. Theraulaz

Abstract

Recent theoretical and empirical studies have focused on the topology of large networks of communication/interactions in biological, social and technological systems. Most of them have been studied in the scope of the small-world and scale-free networks’ theory. Here we analyze the characteristics of ant networks of galleries produced in a 2-D experimental setup. These networks are neither small-worlds nor scale-free networks and belong to a particular class of network, i.e. embedded planar graphs emerging from a distributed growth mechanism. We compare the networks of galleries with both minimal spanning trees and greedy triangulations. We show that the networks of galleries have a path system efficiency and robustness to disconnections closer to the one observed in triangulated networks though their cost is closer to the one of a tree. These networks may have been prevented to evolve toward the classes of small-world and scale-free networks because of the strong spatial constraints under which they grow, but they may share with many real networks a similar trend to result from a balance of constraints leading them to achieve both path system efficiency and robustness at low cost. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg 2004

Suggested Citation

  • J. Buhl & J. Gautrais & R. Solé & P. Kuntz & S. Valverde & J. Deneubourg & G. Theraulaz, 2004. "Efficiency and robustness in ant networks of galleries," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 42(1), pages 123-129, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurphb:v:42:y:2004:i:1:p:123-129
    DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2004-00364-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Viana, Matheus P. & Fourcassié, Vincent & Perna, Andrea & Costa, Luciano da F. & Jost, Christian, 2013. "Accessibility in networks: A useful measure for understanding social insect nest architecture," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 38-45.
    2. Wang, Xuesong & You, Shikai & Wang, Ling, 2017. "Classifying road network patterns using multinomial logit model," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 104-112.
    3. Lordan, Oriol & Sallan, Jose M. & Simo, Pep, 2014. "Study of the topology and robustness of airline route networks from the complex network approach: a survey and research agenda," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 112-120.
    4. Sohouenou, Philippe Y.R. & Christidis, Panayotis & Christodoulou, Aris & Neves, Luis A.C. & Presti, Davide Lo, 2020. "Using a random road graph model to understand road networks robustness to link failures," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    5. Lia Papadopoulos & Pablo Blinder & Henrik Ronellenfitsch & Florian Klimm & Eleni Katifori & David Kleinfeld & Danielle S Bassett, 2018. "Comparing two classes of biological distribution systems using network analysis," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(9), pages 1-31, September.
    6. Jacques Gautrais & Jérôme Buhl & Sergi Valverde & Pascale Kuntz & Guy Theraulaz, 2014. "The Role of Colony Size on Tunnel Branching Morphogenesis in Ant Nests," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-11, October.
    7. Guénaël Cabanes & Ellen van Wilgenburg & Madeleine Beekman & Tanya Latty, 2015. "Ants build transportation networks that optimize cost and efficiency at the expense of robustness," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(1), pages 223-231.
    8. Zhang, Tong & Zeng, Zhe & Jia, Tao & Li, Jing, 2016. "Examining the amenability of urban street networks for locating facilities," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 457(C), pages 469-479.

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