Ecological Energetics of Locomotion

运动的生态能量学

• 批准号: 9006265
• 负责人: Donald Feener
• 金额: $ 12万
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1991
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1991-03-01 至 1993-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9006265&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ecological; Energetics; Locomotion

The objective of the proposed research is to develop an understanding of the factors that affect the energy costs of existence and costs of transport in six species of ants. These insects have served as an empirical basis for economic models of foraging and territorial defense; however quantitative tests of such models have been limited by the absence of comparative data on actual energy costs. Using sensitive computer-assisted sampling techniques developed in the laboratory, the investigators plan to measure the metabolic rate of individual ants at rest and actively exercising. They will examine the effects on energy cost of such ecologically relevant variables as 1) body mass, 2) ambient temperature, 3) running speed, and 4) load mass and mode of carriage. The first comparative data on ventilation patterns in exercising insects will be gathered. The goal is to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive body of data on the energy transactions of an ecologically important group of small insects. Results of the study will allow ecologists to accurately estimate energy costs from a few easily measured environmental variables. Such an ability should encourage more quantitative tests of ecological theory based on economic models. In addition to these contributions to basic science, the proposed research should have several practical applications, The work to date has made several technical advances in the analysis of gas exchange in small insects, including the development of software and instrumentation. The detailed analysis of gaits in ants may prove useful in small machine robotics. In addition, data from the study will help applied ecologists estimate changes in energy flow due to habitat alteration in desert ecosystems.

拟议研究的目标是开发一种 了解影响能源成本的因素 六种蚂蚁的生存和运输成本。 这些 昆虫已经成为经济模型的经验基础， 觅食和领土防御;然而， 由于缺乏可比较的数据，这些模型受到限制 实际能源成本。 利用灵敏的计算机辅助取样技术 在实验室中开发的，研究人员计划测量 蚂蚁个体在休息和活动时的代谢率 锻炼 他们将研究这类能源对能源成本的影响。 生态相关变量为1）体重，2）环境 温度，3）运行速度，和4）负载质量和模式 马车 第一个比较数据的通风模式， 将收集锻炼的昆虫。 我们的目标是提供， 第一次，一个全面的数据机构的能源 一组生态上重要的小昆虫。 研究结果将使生态学家能够准确地估计 能源成本从几个容易测量的环境变量。 这种能力应该鼓励更多的定量测试， 基于经济模型的生态理论。 除了这些对基础科学的贡献， 建议的研究应该有几个实际应用， 迄今为止，这项工作在技术上取得了一些进展， 分析小型昆虫的气体交换，包括 软件和仪器的开发。 的详细 蚂蚁的步态分析可能对小型机器有用 机器人 此外，研究数据将有助于应用 生态学家估计，由于栖息地的变化， 改变沙漠生态系统。