What is it about?

We investigated dynamics of warfare in ants, and the environmental factors that determine the outcome of combat. Using theories of human warfare, as well as video game simulations and laboratory experiments with ants, we demonstrate that investing in fewer strong soldiers is a better strategy in complex terrain-based battlefields, whereas investing in larger armies is better in simple, open battlefields.

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Why is it important?

We advanced the study of human warfare by demonstrating an environmental effect on optimal army-building strategy. In a practical sense, non-native invasive ants are generally smaller but more numerous than their native competitors. Moreover invasive ants tend to be more dominant in disturbed and simplified habitats. Our results suggest that future management techniques might be able to introduce ground level complexity to disturbed habitats to tip the competitive balance in favor of native ants.

Perspectives

I very much enjoyed the process of applying theories of warfare to non-human animals, and it's an area I would love to continue working in. I hope it gets people thinking that fundamental studies of behavior and ecology can be both fascinating and practical.

Samuel Lymbery
Murdoch University

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This page is a summary of: Complex battlefields favor strong soldiers over large armies in social animal warfare, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217973120.
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