path: root/src/abstract.i

Emergent group behaviors were observed which point toward a certain degree of cooperation by antlions.
The donut theory, the forerunner in describing antlions' spatial distribution, asserts that the insects form a ring to capture ants approximately equitably.
Similar ``cooperative'' behavior was observed, with the antlions remaining under the soil when the surface was overpopulated (demonstrable by a significantly lower number of pits forming in smaller trials).
The donut theory was confirmed by the observed spatial distribution because antlions often stuck to the side of the trial area despite there being significant available space on the inside of the circle where an individual could gain competitive advantage.
The hypothesis that they exhibit more extreme behaviors under space constraints was confirmed because, proportional to the number introduced, especially in the 8x7 trial, cannibalism and non-formation of pits increased significantly---likely as a compensatory mechanism to ensure that a stable ``surface group'' could still safely exist.
Additionally, territory (measurable by the Voronoi diagrams and by nearest-neighbor) decreased towards the later trials, and the patterns didn't merely display the same structure scaled down---rather, antlions accepted more dense conditions by increasing pit density.
This likely corresponds to natural conditions (especially in hatcheries) where some proportion of the antlions remain on the surface (increasing with population density because it's understood to mean a prevalence of food), and as the surface antlions become adults (sometimes fed through cannibalism), new larvae emerge to take their place and sustain the species' propagation.