Ecological Energetics of Locomotion

拟议研究的目的是了解影响六种蚂蚁生存能源成本和运输成本的因素。这些昆虫已经成为觅食和领土防御经济模型的经验基础；然而，由于缺乏关于实际能源成本的比较数据，对这些模型的定量测试一直受到限制。使用实验室开发的灵敏的计算机辅助采样技术，研究人员计划测量单个蚂蚁在休息和积极运动时的代谢率。他们将研究与生态相关的变量对能源成本的影响，如1)身体质量，2)环境温度，3)运行速度，4)负载质量和运输方式。将收集第一批关于运动昆虫通风模式的比较数据。其目标是首次提供一组具有重要生态意义的小型昆虫的能量交易的全面数据。这项研究的结果将使生态学家能够根据一些容易测量的环境变量准确地估计能源成本。这样的能力应该会鼓励对基于经济模型的生态理论进行更多的定量测试。除了对基础科学的这些贡献外，拟议的研究还应该有几个实际应用，迄今为止，这项工作在分析小昆虫的气体交换方面取得了几项技术进步，包括开发软件和仪器。对蚂蚁步态的详细分析可能会被证明在小型机器机器人中很有用。此外，这项研究的数据将帮助应用生态学家估计由于沙漠生态系统中栖息地改变而导致的能量流变化。

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.