Fig. 1
From: Naïve ants reach a food source quicker when encountering returning ants
The experimental apparatus configurations used in different experiments. (A) A conduit between an ant nest and a feeder was established using an elevated bridge with entrance ramp (slope) extending down to the nest. Foraging thus required movement in the following direction: slope → bridge → feeding area → bridge → slope. (B) The removable connecting device used to introduce target ants onto the slope. Target ants were introduced in the middle of the slope with a 2 cm gap from the start of the elevated bridge section. The slope was covered by this device to minimize interference with the ant trail (if present). (C) Rat-guard structure used only in the main experiment to restrict ant movement from the nest onto the bridge but still allow return from the feeder (i.e., unidirectional inward ant traffic). The rat-guard structure was installed just prior to introducing the first target ants with the connecting device. (D) Complete experimental apparatus for the main experiment.
