The aim of this thesis is to investigate if optimal behavior can
emerge from the self-organized mechanisms underlying the behavior of ants. This is analyzed under the light of the assumptions of Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT). From a widely used mathematical model of ant foraging behavior three very different qualitative forms of behavior emerge. It is fair to assume that some of these behaviors will be more efficient than the others in certain types of environment. The constraints on tractable mathematical models for complex environments means that this question can only be answered by computer simulation. We have implemented a comprehensive individual based computer simulation model of ant foraging. The results found
seem to suggest that the main metric used in the literature to
measure optimality need to be revised, ant foraging simulation
models also need to be thoroughly rechecked. An effect of foraging behavior previously not accounted for, was also found to have serious impact on the efficiency of the foraging behavior.

Each link (on the left) leads to each stage of the project, all of the references can be found on the Resources page.