Wind-induced ventilation of the giant nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta vollenweideri
Wind-induced ventilation of the giant nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta vollenweideri
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DOI：
10.1007/s001140100235
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发表时间：
2001-07-01
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Roces, F
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Kleineidam, C;Ernst, R;Roces, F
为了了解精心设计的巢结构的意义，巢气候的控制，我们调查了巢通风的机制，在一个大的领域巢阿塔vollenweideri。地面风，从巢丘的中央隧道的空气，观察到的主要驱动力巢通风在夏季。到目前为止，这种风诱导通风的机制还没有被描述为社会昆虫群体。热对流，另一种可能的驱动通风的力量，贡献很小。根据其主要的气流方向，两个功能不同的隧道组被确定为：流出隧道的上部，中央区域，和流入隧道的下部，周边地区的巢丘。隧道的功能与风向无关。空气通过中央隧道流出，随后通过外周隧道延迟流入。切叶蚁在蚁穴顶部的隧道口设计有塔楼，可以加强由风引起的蚁穴通风。
To understand the significance of elaborate nest architecture for the control of nest climate, we investigated the mechanisms governing nest ventilation in a large field nest of Atta vollenweideri. Surface wind, drawing air from the central tunnels of the nest mound, was observed to be the main driving force for nest ventilation during summer. This mechanism of wind-induced ventilation has so far not been described for social insect colonies. Thermal convection, another possible force driving ventilation, contributed very little. According to their predominant airflow direction, two functionally distinct tunnel groups were identified: outflow tunnels in the upper, central region, and inflow tunnels in the lower, peripheral region of the nest mound. The function of the tunnels was independent of wind direction. Outflow of air through the central tunnels was followed by a delayed inflow through the peripheral tunnels. Leaf-cutting ants design the tunnel openings on the top of the nest with turrets which may reinforce wind-induced nest ventilation.