biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
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28 GROUP BEHAVIOUR AND<br />
SWARM INTELLIGENCE<br />
Research Interests<br />
I am interested in a variety <strong>of</strong> questions related to group<br />
behaviour and swarm intelligence. I am particularly interested in<br />
understanding how organisms with relatively simple cognitive<br />
systems (ants, bees and slime moulds) are able to solve complex<br />
tasks. For example, slime moulds (which lack brains) can solve<br />
mazes, anticipate periodic events, make ‘clever’ decisions about<br />
which foods to consume, and even use a form <strong>of</strong> memory to<br />
navigate around their environment. Despite the fact that ant<br />
brains are tiny, colonies <strong>of</strong> ants can solve shortest path problems<br />
and respond rapidly to changes in food quality. I am also interested<br />
in the costs and benefits <strong>of</strong> group living.<br />
Honours projects<br />
Honours projects will usually focus on some aspect <strong>of</strong> behaviour in<br />
ants, slime moulds, honey bees or Australian native bees (although<br />
I am open to working with other species).<br />
1. Ants<br />
Ant colonies build complex, efficient networks between nests.<br />
We have shown that the shape <strong>of</strong> these networks is highly<br />
efficient, but we don’t know how individual ants use the network,<br />
or how networks respond to changes in traffic. Student projects<br />
in this area would study the response <strong>of</strong> networks to various<br />
Dr Tanya Latty<br />
Room 253, Macleay<br />
Building A12<br />
T: (02) 9036 5162<br />
E: tanya.latty@sydney.<br />
edu.au<br />
perturbations (severed trails, increase in traffic, etc), as well as examining how the individual behavior<br />
<strong>of</strong> ants leads to collective solutions.<br />
2. Slime moulds<br />
Projects on slime moulds can either focus on behaviour (what kinds <strong>of</strong> problems can slime moulds<br />
solve? How do these brainless organisms go about problem solving?) or on slime mould ecology. For<br />
example, we know very little about the role slime moulds play in soil ecosystems.<br />
3. Bees<br />
I am looking for students to work on a project that will examine the ecology <strong>of</strong> native bees in<br />
community gardens.