Show simple item record

dc.contributor.advisorDornhaus, Annaen
dc.contributor.authorLausman, Tara Lynne
dc.creatorLausman, Tara Lynneen
dc.date.accessioned2016-10-21T22:45:24Z
dc.date.available2016-10-21T22:45:24Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/621126
dc.description.abstractA colony of social insects has many tasks to complete for the good of the colony. The tasks, such as brood care, feeding, foraging and building, could be split among its members (implying specialization). Alternatively, ants could just freely switch between tasks, either doing whatever needs to be done or whatever tasks they come into contact with. If individuals switch from one task to another, they may incur costs, including a time cost. So far, research has yet to quantify such task switching costs. To learn more about switching cost, specifically quantifying the cost in terms of time, videos of Temnothorax rugatulus were observed for specific tasks, such as brood care, feeding, foraging and building. The switching costs were measured in two ways depending on whether the non-switching time or switching time were being measured. For the non-switching time between bouts of the same task, the interval time started when the ant stopped touching the brood item and ended when the ant started touching the brood item. For the switching time between two different tasks, time began when the ant stopped one task and ended when the ant began a second task. The interval time was calculated by recording the time, using the timeline on the video, that the ant stopped one task (or bout of one task) and moved on the next. The data collected from the videos were analyzed using a Welch Two-Sample T-test. Through the study, it was discovered that there was, in fact, no significant delay when Temnothorax rugatulus switch from one task to another.
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherThe University of Arizona.en
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.en
dc.subjectSocial Insectsen
dc.subjectSpecializationen
dc.subjectSwitching costsen
dc.subjectTemnothorax rugatulusen
dc.subjectGeneral Biologyen
dc.subjectDivision of laboren
dc.titleThe Difference in Switching Costs Between Bouts of Identical and Different Tasks in Temnothorax rugatulusen_US
dc.typetexten
dc.typeElectronic Thesisen
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Arizonaen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
dc.contributor.committeememberBronstein, Judieen
dc.contributor.committeememberHunter, Martha S.en
thesis.degree.disciplineGraduate Collegeen
thesis.degree.disciplineGeneral Biologyen
thesis.degree.nameM.S.en
refterms.dateFOA2018-06-17T09:46:28Z
html.description.abstractA colony of social insects has many tasks to complete for the good of the colony. The tasks, such as brood care, feeding, foraging and building, could be split among its members (implying specialization). Alternatively, ants could just freely switch between tasks, either doing whatever needs to be done or whatever tasks they come into contact with. If individuals switch from one task to another, they may incur costs, including a time cost. So far, research has yet to quantify such task switching costs. To learn more about switching cost, specifically quantifying the cost in terms of time, videos of Temnothorax rugatulus were observed for specific tasks, such as brood care, feeding, foraging and building. The switching costs were measured in two ways depending on whether the non-switching time or switching time were being measured. For the non-switching time between bouts of the same task, the interval time started when the ant stopped touching the brood item and ended when the ant started touching the brood item. For the switching time between two different tasks, time began when the ant stopped one task and ended when the ant began a second task. The interval time was calculated by recording the time, using the timeline on the video, that the ant stopped one task (or bout of one task) and moved on the next. The data collected from the videos were analyzed using a Welch Two-Sample T-test. Through the study, it was discovered that there was, in fact, no significant delay when Temnothorax rugatulus switch from one task to another.


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Name:
azu_etd_14919_sip1_m.pdf
Size:
187.4Kb
Format:
PDF

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record