$990.00
The Ant Sucrose Feeder 2 is utilized to assess how ants collectively prefer paths based on distance and food source location.
This feeder features a diamond-shaped maze consisting of two V-shaped branches connected through their arms. The maze guides ants from the nest to the sucrose feeder containing the food source. Each branch is positioned at a 60-degree angle relative to the center axis to ensure minimal interference with the ants’ decision-making process. A short 2 cm section connects the longer branch to the shorter branch at both ends. The maze connects to the feeder and nest at opposite ends via a small 2 cm bridge.
This apparatus evaluates the subjects’ route memory by offering two paths of varying lengths that lead to the same food source.
Mazeengineers provides the Ant Sucrose Feeder 2 for research purposes.
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Features |
Length of V-shaped branches: 8cm |
Angle of branches to the axis of the center:60o |
Length of link between branches: 2cm |
Length of link between maze and feeder: 2cm |
The ant sucrose feeder is employed to study how ants collectively prefer paths based on distance and food source accessibility. It assesses route memory by offering two paths of differing lengths to the same food source, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying ants’ decision-making processes. This device is valuable for creating various experimental setups involving memory and pheromones to test ants.
Pheromone deposition on the substrate significantly influences the collective decision-making of ants. However, individual behaviors and private information also impact group decisions. Combining private and social information in making composite path choices and organizing ants enhances collective decision-making effectiveness (T. Czaczkes, J. Czaczkes, Iglhaut, & Heinze, 2015). The design and specific treatments of the ant sucrose feeder challenge ants’ decision-making abilities in complex environments.
The ant sucrose feeder features a diamond-shaped maze that offers two distinct path choices for foraging. Decision points near the maze’s entrance and exit serve as critical decision-making junctures for the subjects. This design enables foragers to choose their paths while moving toward the feeder or returning to the nest. Other devices used to assess memory, learning, and decision-making in ants include the Ant Y Maze, Ant Double Bifurcation T, Ant T Maze, and Ant Binary Tree Maze.
To enhance subjects’ motivation for foraging, maintain them in a food-deprived state for 4 days before testing. Cleanse the apparatus with ethanol before and after each trial to eliminate any lingering pheromones. Utilize external tracking and recording systems like Noldus Ethovision XT to monitor and analyze the behavior of ants interacting with the ant sucrose feeder.
Following parameters are observed when using ant sucrose feeders
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