A Zombie Ant Agent-Based Model

Parasites can alter the behavior of animals. Such alterations could be a byproduct of infection or actively controlled and directed by the parasite. Ants infected with zombie ant fungi (Ophiocordyceps sp.) show behavioral changes culminating in the ant dying while biting into vegetation. To investigate the influence of the parasite on behavioral changes, we created an agent-based model that provides a prediction of how fungal infected ants move before death. This model was built in NetLogo which is available for free at https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Once the model is open in NetLogo, click on the 'Info' tab for information about running the model and the model parameters.

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Imirzian, Natalie (2021). A Zombie Ant Agent-Based Model [Data set]. Scholarsphere. https://doi.org/10.26207/n8cc-2j90

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Work Title A Zombie Ant Agent-Based Model
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Natalie Imirzian
License CC BY 4.0 (Attribution)
Work Type Software Or Program Code
Publication Date January 25, 2021
DOI doi:10.26207/n8cc-2j90
Deposited January 25, 2021

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Creator Natalie Imirzian
  • Added model.zip
  • Updated Publication Date, License Show Changes
    Publication Date
    • 2021-01-25
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated

Version 2
published

  • Created
  • Added README.md
  • Updated License, Description Show Changes
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    Description
    • A model to recreate the process of a zombie ant leaving the nest to bite the underside of a leaf. Based on the ant Camponotus rufipes infected with the fungal parasite Ophiocordyceps camponoti-rufipedis.
    • Parasites can alter the behavior of animals. Such alterations could be a byproduct of infection or actively controlled and directed by the parasite. Ants infected with zombie ant fungi (Ophiocordyceps sp.) show behavioral changes culminating in the ant dying while biting into vegetation. To investigate the influence of the parasite on behavioral changes, we created an agent-based model that provides a prediction of how fungal infected ants move before death.
    • This model was built in NetLogo 6.0.3 which is available for free at https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. The model file is located under the 'model' folder and is titled 'zabm.nlogo'. Once the model is open in NetLogo, click on the 'Info' tab for information about running the model and the model parameters.
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated

Version 3
published

  • Created
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • Parasites can alter the behavior of animals. Such alterations could be a byproduct of infection or actively controlled and directed by the parasite. Ants infected with zombie ant fungi (Ophiocordyceps sp.) show behavioral changes culminating in the ant dying while biting into vegetation. To investigate the influence of the parasite on behavioral changes, we created an agent-based model that provides a prediction of how fungal infected ants move before death.
    • This model was built in NetLogo 6.0.3 which is available for free at https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. The model file is located under the 'model' folder and is titled 'zabm.nlogo'. Once the model is open in NetLogo, click on the 'Info' tab for information about running the model and the model parameters.
    • Parasites can alter the behavior of animals. Such alterations could be a byproduct of infection or actively controlled and directed by the parasite. Ants infected with zombie ant fungi (Ophiocordyceps sp.) show behavioral changes culminating in the ant dying while biting into vegetation. To investigate the influence of the parasite on behavioral changes, we created an agent-based model that provides a prediction of how fungal infected ants move before death. This model was built in NetLogo which is available for free at https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Once the model is open in NetLogo, click on the 'Info' tab for information about running the model and the model parameters.
  • Updated Work Title Show Changes
    Work Title
    • A zombie ant agent-based model
    • A Zombie Ant Agent-Based Model
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated