Insect Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: July 3, 2024
Harvester
ants
are
one
of
the
most
extensively
studied
groups
ants,
especially
group
foraging
Messor
barbarus
(Linnaeus,
1767),
which
construct
long-lasting
trunk
trails.
Limited
laboratory
investigations
have
delved
into
head-on
encounters
along
trails
involving
workers
moving
in
opposing
directions,
with
fewer
corresponding
studies
conducted
natural
environment.
To
address
this
gap,
we
devised
an
in-field
experimental
design
to
induce
lane
segregation
on
trail
M.
barbarus.
Using
image-based
tracking
method,
analyzed
behavior
species
assess
costs
associated
and
figure
out
coexistence
outgoing
returning
a
bidirectional
route.
Our
results
consistently
reveal
heightened
straightness
speed
unidirectional
test
lanes,
accompanied
by
elevated
rate
compared
lanes.
This
suggests
potential
impact
collisions
behavior,
efficiency.
Additionally,
Kinematic
analysis
revealed
distinct
movement
patterns
between
outbound
inbound
flows,
particularly
low
sinuous
trajectories
inbounding
unladen
workers.
The
study
encounter
rates
two
traffic
systems
hints
at
plausible
utilization
individual
memory
within
trails,
underscoring
pivotal
role
information
exchange
load
transfer.
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
219, P. 108757 - 108757
Published: Feb. 23, 2024
Object
Detection
and
Tracking
have
gained
importance
in
recent
years
because
of
the
great
advances
image
video
analysis
techniques
accurate
results
these
technologies
are
producing.
Moreover,
they
successfully
been
applied
to
multiple
fields,
including
agricultural
domain
since
offer
real-time
monitoring
status
crops
animals
while
counting
how
many
present
within
a
field/barn.
This
review
aims
current
literature
on
field
Precision
Farming.
For
that,
over
300
research
articles
were
explored,
from
which
150
last
five
systematically
reviewed
analysed
regarding
algorithms
implemented,
belong
to,
difficulties
faced,
limitations
should
be
tackled
future.
Lastly,
it
examines
potential
issues
that
this
approach
might
have,
for
instance,
lack
open-source
datasets
with
labelled
data.
The
findings
study
indicate
critical
enhance
Farming
pave
way
robotization
sector
provide
insights
crop
animal
management,
optimize
resource
allocation.
Future
work
focus
optimal
acquisition
prior
Tracking,
along
consideration
biophysical
environment
farming
scenarios.
Current Biology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
35(3), P. R110 - R124
Published: Feb. 1, 2025
Unlike
any
other
group
of
animals,
all
ant
species
are
social:
individual
ants
share
the
food
they
gather
with
their
nestmates
and
as
a
consequence
must
repeatedly
leave
nest
to
find
then
return
home
it.
These
back-and-forth
foraging
trips
have
been
studied
for
about
century
much
our
growing
understanding
strategies
underlying
animal
navigation
has
come
from
these
studies.
One
important
strategy
that
use
keep
track
where
on
trip
is
'path
integration',
in
which
continuously
update
'home
vector'
gives
estimated
distance
direction
nest.
As
path
integration
accumulates
errors,
it
cannot
be
relied
bring
precisely
home:
such
precision
accomplished
by
using
views
acquired
before
start
foraging.
Further
learning
scaffolded
vectors
or
remembered
vectors,
guide
route
help
useful
experienced
way.
Many
rely
olfaction
well
vision
guidance
full
details
paths
revealed
how
mix
innate
learnt
multisensory
cues.
Wood
ants,
we
focus
this
review,
take
an
oscillating
along
pheromone
trail
sample
odours,
but
acquire
visual
information
only
at
peaks
troughs
oscillations.
To
provide
working
model
neural
basis
multimodal
navigational
outline
anatomy
functioning
major
central
brain
areas
circuits
-
complex,
mushroom
bodies
lateral
accessory
lobes
involved
coordination
behaviour
olfactory
patterns.
Because
brains
not
yet
well-studied,
work
done
notably,
Drosophila,
silkworm
moths
bees
derive
plausible
circuitry
can
deliver
ants'
strategies.
PLoS Biology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
23(2), P. e3003002 - e3003002
Published: Feb. 10, 2025
In
multi-animal
tracking,
addressing
occlusion
and
crowding
is
crucial
for
accurate
behavioral
analysis.
However,
in
situations
where
generate
complex
interactions,
achieving
pose
tracking
remains
challenging.
Therefore,
we
introduced
virtual
marker
(vmTracking),
which
uses
markers
individual
identification.
Virtual
are
labels
derived
from
conventional
markerless
tools,
such
as
DeepLabCut
(maDLC)
Social
LEAP
Estimate
Animal
Poses
(SLEAP).
Unlike
physical
markers,
exist
only
within
the
video
attribute
features
to
individuals,
enabling
consistent
identification
throughout
entire
while
keeping
animals
reality.
Using
these
cues,
annotations
were
applied
videos,
was
conducted
with
single-animal
(saDLC)
SLEAP’s
method.
vmTracking
minimized
manual
corrections
annotation
frames
needed
training,
efficiently
tackling
crowding.
Experiments
multiple
mice,
fish,
human
dancers
confirmed
vmTracking’s
variability
applicability.
These
findings
could
enhance
precision
reliability
of
methods
used
analysis
naturalistic
social
behaviors
animals,
providing
a
simpler
yet
more
effective
solution.
Science Robotics,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
8(82)
Published: Sept. 13, 2023
For
many
robotics
applications,
it
is
desirable
to
have
relatively
low-power
and
efficient
onboard
solutions.
We
took
inspiration
from
insects,
such
as
ants,
that
are
capable
of
learning
following
routes
in
complex
natural
environments
using
constrained
sensory
neural
systems.
Such
capabilities
particularly
relevant
applications
agricultural
robotics,
where
visual
navigation
through
dense
vegetation
remains
a
challenging
task.
In
this
scenario,
route
likely
high
self-similarity
be
subject
changing
lighting
conditions
motion
over
uneven
terrain,
the
effects
wind
on
leaves
increase
variability
input.
used
bioinspired
event
camera
terrestrial
robot
collect
sequences
along
outdoor
applied
algorithm
for
spatiotemporal
memory
closely
based
known
circuit
insect
brain.
show
method
plausible
support
recognition
more
robust
than
SeqSLAM
when
evaluated
repeated
runs
same
or
with
small
lateral
offsets.
By
encoding
spiking
network
running
neuromorphic
computer,
our
model
can
evaluate
familiarity
real
time
footage.
Frontiers in Physiology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15
Published: May 22, 2024
Ants
are
capable
of
learning
long
visually
guided
foraging
routes
with
limited
neural
resources.
The
visual
scene
memory
needed
for
this
behaviour
is
mediated
by
the
mushroom
bodies;
an
insect
brain
region
important
and
memory.
In
a
navigation
context,
bodies
theorised
to
act
as
familiarity
detectors,
guiding
ants
views
that
similar
those
previously
learned
when
first
travelling
along
route.
Evidence
from
behavioural
experiments,
computational
studies
lesions
all
support
idea.
Here
we
further
investigate
role
in
spiking
network
model
complex
natural
scenes.
By
implementing
these
networks
GeNN–a
library
building
GPU
accelerated
networks–we
were
able
test
models
offline
on
image
database
representing
through
outdoor
environment,
also
online
embodied
robot.
body
successfully
learnt
large
series
scenes
(400
corresponding
27
m
route)
used
memories
choose
accurate
heading
directions
during
route
recapitulation
both
environments.
Through
analysing
our
model’s
Kenyon
cell
(KC)
activity,
demonstrate
KC
activity
directly
related
respective
novelty
input
images.
conducting
parameter
search
found
there
non-linear
dependence
between
optimal
projection
neuron
(VPN)
connection
sparsity
length
time
presented
stimulus.
showed
training
lower
proportions
generally
produced
better
accuracy
testing
entire
We
comparator
algorithms
Quanser
Q-car
robot
processing
running
Nvidia
Jetson
TX2.
On
6.5
route,
had
mean
distance
(error)
0.144
±
0.088
over
5
trials,
which
was
performance
comparable
standard
visual-only
algorithms.
Thus,
have
demonstrated
biologically
plausible
ant
can
navigate
environments
simulation
real
world.
Understanding
basis
will
provide
insight
into
how
circuits
tuned
rapidly
learn
behaviourally
relevant
information
inspiration
creating
bio-mimetic
computer/robotic
systems
low
energy
requirements.
Learning & Behavior,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
52(1), P. 105 - 113
Published: Nov. 22, 2023
Abstract
A
large
volume
of
research
on
individually
navigating
ants
has
shown
how
path
integration
and
visually
guided
navigation
form
a
major
part
the
ant
toolkit
for
many
species
are
sufficient
mechanisms
successful
navigation.
One
behavioural
markers
interaction
these
is
that
experienced
foragers
develop
idiosyncratic
routes
require
individual
have
personal
unique
visual
memories
they
use
to
guide
habitual
between
nest
feeding
sites.
The
majority
ants,
however,
inhabit
complex
cluttered
environments
social
pheromone
trails
often
collective
recruitment,
organisation
foragers.
We
do
not
know
interacts
with
behaviour
along
shared
in
natural
environments.
thus
asked
here
if
wood
forage
through
densely
woodlands
where
travel
repeatedly
follow
same
or
choose
spread
paths
within
trail.
recorded
three
long
homing
trajectories
20
their
woodland
habitat.
found
when
highly
landscapes.
This
shows
rely
route
guidance
even
chemical
trail
information
available.
argue
cues
likely
be
dominant
sensory
modality
routes.
These
experiments
shed
new
light
insects
general,
navigate
multimodal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(48)
Published: Nov. 19, 2024
Desert
ants
are
known
to
rely
heavily
on
vision
while
venturing
for
food
and
returning
the
nest.
During
these
foraging
trips,
memorize
recognize
their
visual
surroundings,
which
enables
them
recapitulate
individually
learned
routes
in
a
fast
effective
manner.
The
compound
eyes
crucial
such
navigation;
however,
it
remains
unclear
how
information
from
both
integrated
cope
with
impairment.
Here,
we
manipulated
ants’
system
by
covering
one
of
two
analyzed
ability
familiar
views.
Monocular
showed
an
immediate
disruption
route.
However,
they
were
able
compensate
this
nonnatural
impairment
few
hours
engaging
extensive
route-relearning
ontogeny,
composed
more
learning
walks
than
what
naïve
typically
do.
This
relearning
process
eye
forms
novel
memories,
without
erasing
previous
memories
acquired
eyes.
Additionally,
having
route
only
unable
eyes,
even
though
is
available.
Together,
shows
that
encoded
recalled
egocentric
fundamentally
binocular
way,
where
input
as
whole
must
be
matched
enable
recognition.
We
show
kind
processing
fits
neural
circuitry.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 7, 2024
Abstract
In
multi-animal
tracking,
addressing
occlusion
and
crowding
is
crucial
for
accurate
behavioral
analysis.
Consequently,
we
introduced
Virtual
Marker
Tracking
(vmTracking),
which
uses
virtual
markers
individual
identification.
markers,
created
from
traditional
markerless
pose
tracking
tools
like
DeepLabCut
(maDLC)
Social
LEAP
Estimate
Animal
Poses
(SLEAP),
attribute
features
to
individuals,
enabling
consistent
identification
throughout
the
entire
video
without
physical
markers.
Using
these
as
cues,
annotations
were
applied
videos,
was
conducted
with
single-animal
(saDLC)
SLEAP’s
method.
vmTracking
minimized
manual
corrections
annotation
frames
needed
training,
efficiently
tackling
crowding.
Experiments
multiple
mice,
fish,
human
dancers
confirmed
vmTracking’s
variability
applicability.
These
findings
could
enhance
precision
reliability
of
methods
used
in
analysis
complex
naturalistic
social
behaviors
animals,
providing
a
simpler
yet
more
effective
solution.
Frontiers in Ethology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
3
Published: March 5, 2024
Since
Tinbergen’s
seminal
contribution
in
1963,
ethology
has
blossomed
as
a
multifaceted
research
field.
Sixty
years
later,
uncountable
articles
followed
the
four
questions
proposed
necessary
for
understanding
animal
behaviour,
and
they
culminated
segmentation
of
subareas
which
communicate
little
among
themselves.
Foraging
ants
is
one
example
where
this
division
happened,
despite
clear
need
to
integrate
results
obtained
from
different
approaches.
We
chose
subject
revise
literature,
relating
main
relevant
level
explanation
theoretical
framework.
Through
such
revision,
we
aim
foster
integration
approaches
bring
light
how
can
clarify
understand
foraging
sixty
after
initial
proposition.