Percolation in insect nest networks: Evidence for optimal wiring

Sergi Valverde, Bernat Corominas-Murtra, Andrea Perna, Pascale Kuntz, Guy Theraulaz, and Ricard V. Solé
Phys. Rev. E 79, 066106 – Published 12 June 2009

Abstract

Optimization has been shown to be a driving force for the evolution of some biological structures, such as neural maps in the brain or transport networks. Here we show that insect networks also display characteristic traits of optimality. By using a graph representation of the chamber organization of termite nests and a disordered lattice model, it is found that these spatial nests are close to a percolation threshold. This suggests that termites build efficient systems of galleries spanning most of the nest volume at low cost. The evolutionary consequences are outlined.

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  • Received 22 July 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.066106

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Sergi Valverde1,2, Bernat Corominas-Murtra1, Andrea Perna2, Pascale Kuntz3, Guy Theraulaz2, and Ricard V. Solé1,4

  • 1ICREA-Complex Systems Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
  • 2CRCA, Université Paul Sabatier, CNRS-UMR 5169, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
  • 3Ecole Polytechnique de Nantes, BP50609, 44306 Nantes, France
  • 4Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, New Mexico 87501, USA

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Issue

Vol. 79, Iss. 6 — June 2009

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