A global framework to advance cooperative transport research in ants

• Applicant: Dr. Andrés Devegili, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Sensory and Behavioural Biology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 574022558

Cooperation is a central aspect of social behaviour, enabling animal groups to accomplish complex tasks beyond the capability of individuals. A striking example is cooperative transport (CT), in which multiple individuals coordinate to move an object that is too large for a single individual. In ants, CT behaviour plays an important ecological role as it allows colonies to retrieve large food items, clear obstacles from their foraging paths, and construct nests. Research on CT in ants has provided significant advancements into our understanding of collective decision-making, the interplay between leadership and self-organization, and the mechanisms underlying coordination efficiency. Additionally, the study of CT in ants is of great value as a model for decentralized problem-solving in swarm robotics. Despite these advances, CT research remains heavily biased toward single-species studies, mostly focused on just two ant subfamilies. This narrow lens limits our understanding of CT as a broader biological phenomenon, leaving two major questions unanswered: (1) What makes a good cooperative transporter? And (2) what are the evolutionary origins of CT in ants? Addressing these questions is critical to understanding how complex collective behaviours evolve and persist. Progress is limited by two main obstacles: (1) the lack of standardized quantitative data on CT across ant species and (2) insufficient taxonomic and geographic coverage. To overcome these limitations, I propose a global framework to advance CT research by combining collaborative networks, standardized protocols, and an open-access CT database. The collaborative network will operate at two levels: (1) research laboratories will conduct high-resolution bait transport trials using unified video protocols; and (2) citizen scientists—university and high school educators and students—will conduct field trials integrated into coursework. Both streams will generate standardized data on CT behaviour and expand its’ taxonomic and geographic reach. Beyond the scientific contributions, the project will serve as a bridge between academia and the public, promoting science education and enhancing awareness of the ecological importance of ants and broader appreciation for animal behaviour research. Overarching project aim: To advance our understanding of a unique decentralized form of cooperation by developing a global framework for the study of cooperative transport in ants. Specific objectives: 1. Establish expert and citizen science networks to provide data on CT behaviour in ants. 2. Develop and implement standardized sampling protocols adapted to each network, ensuring data consistency and comparability. 3. Build and maintain a centralized, open-access CT Database and digital platform to host and curate the data collected by these networks. 4. Use the CT Database to address: Q1: What makes a good cooperative transporter? Q2: What are the evolutionary origins of CT behaviour?

• DFG Programme: WBP Position