Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Speed versus accuracy in collective decision making.

Nigel R Franks1, Anna Dornhaus, Jon P Fitzsimmons

  • 1Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK. nigel.franks@bristol.ac.uk

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|December 12, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Snake markings facilitate diverse anti-predator functions depending on habitat and viewing angle.

Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology·2026
Same author

Bumble bees that follow a stricter routine innovate less: Foraging behaviors, environmental complexity, and how they relate to novel problem solving.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Biopsychosocial needs and complementary treatments for patients undergoing management for periprosthetic joint infection following hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review.

EFORT open reviews·2026
Same author

German rehabilitation after total hip or knee arthroplasty through Dutch eyes: a qualitative focus group pilot study.

BMC research notes·2026
Same author

Evolution of aquatic snails' defences resulted in clade-specific differences in egg toxicity, pigments and warning coloration.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Attitude toward physical activity after total hip or knee replacement: A cross-sectional survey study of Dutch and Norwegian patients.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Chronic limb loading results in remarkable load carriage economy in growing fowl.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Motion-from-structure in face perception: expectations of natural face motion depend on face shape.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Unification and generalization of models of zygote survival.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Phenological type- and diameter-dependent effects of individual light availability and interannual climate variation on tree growth.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Interaction range of common goods shapes Black Queen dynamics beyond the cheater-cooperator narrative.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Stingray spine diversity reflects performance trade-offs linked to puncture and breakability.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
See all related articles

Ant colonies adjust nest selection speed and accuracy based on environmental conditions. In harsh environments, they decide faster but less accurately, relying more on individual choices.

Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Collective decision-making is crucial for survival in many species.
  • Ant colonies, like Leptothorax albipennis, use quorum sensing for tasks such as nest selection.
  • Environmental conditions can influence the speed and accuracy of these decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the speed-accuracy trade-off in collective decision-making in Leptothorax albipennis ant colonies.
  • To determine how environmental harshness affects nest selection strategies.
  • To understand the role of quorum sensing in adjusting decision-making under different conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Observing nest selection behavior of Leptothorax albipennis colonies under varying environmental conditions (benign vs. harsh).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzing colony emigration speed and nest discrimination accuracy.
  • Quantifying quorum thresholds and the balance between individual and collective decision-making.

    • Main Results:

    • Ant colonies emigrate to new nests faster under harsh conditions compared to benign conditions.
    • Nest selection accuracy decreases in harsh environments, characterized by errors of judgment rather than omission.
    • Leptothorax albipennis ants lower their quorum thresholds in harsh conditions, increasing reliance on individual decision-making.

    Conclusions:

    • Ant colonies actively adjust their decision-making strategies to balance speed and accuracy based on environmental demands.
    • Collective decision-making is favored in benign conditions when accuracy is paramount, while individual decision-making dominates in harsh conditions for speed.
    • The ability to modulate quorum sensing provides a flexible mechanism for adapting collective behavior to ecological challenges.