螞蟻死亡漩渦

螞蟻死亡漩渦（ant mill）是一種發生在行軍蟻的獨特現象，一群與主要覓食隊伍分離的行軍蟻失去了訊息費洛蒙（trail pheromone）軌跡，開始互相追隨，形成一個不斷旋轉的圓圈。這個圓圈通常被稱為「死亡漩渦」，因為螞蟻最終可能會死於精疲力竭。它已在實驗室和蟻群模擬中重現。^[1]

這種現像是蟻群的自組織結構的副作用。每隻螞蟻都會跟隨它前面的螞蟻，直到出現輕微的偏差（通常是由環境觸發），並形成死亡漩渦。^[2]1921年，威廉·畢比首次描述了螞蟻死亡漩渦，他觀察到了1200英尺（約370m）的死亡漩渦在圓週上。^[3] 每隻螞蟻轉一圈要兩個半小時。^[3] 在異舟蛾亞科（英語：Thaumetopoeinae）和魚類中也發現了類似的現象。^[4]

參考資料

^ Delsuc F. Army Ants Trapped by Their Evolutionary History. PLOS Biology. 2003, 1 (2): e37. PMC 261877 . PMID 14624241. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0000037 .
^ Couzin ID & NR Franks. Self-organized lane formation and optimized traffic flow in army ants. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 2003, 270 (1511): 139–146. PMC 1691225 . PMID 12590751. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2210.
^ ^3.0 ^3.1 Beebe, William. Edge of the Jungle. New York: Henry Holt and Co. 1921: 291–294.
^ Schneirla TC. A unique case of circular milling in ants, considered in relation to trail following and the general problem of orientation. American Museum Novitates. 1944, (1253): 1–26. hdl:2246/3733.

[1] Delsuc F. Army Ants Trapped by Their Evolutionary History. PLOS Biology. 2003, 1 (2): e37. PMC 261877 . PMID 14624241. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0000037 .

[2] Couzin ID & NR Franks. Self-organized lane formation and optimized traffic flow in army ants. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 2003, 270 (1511): 139–146. PMC 1691225 . PMID 12590751. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2210.

[:0-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Beebe, William. Edge of the Jungle. New York: Henry Holt and Co. 1921: 291–294.

[4] Schneirla TC. A unique case of circular milling in ants, considered in relation to trail following and the general problem of orientation. American Museum Novitates. 1944, (1253): 1–26. hdl:2246/3733.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]