Analysis and nonlinear modeling of the mound-building ant Formica lugubris spatial multi-scale dynamic in a larch-tree stand of the southern French Alps

The dynamic of ant colony in the stand was simulated constructing a web of interacting neural net models. Evolution of virtual ant-hills was in accordance with real observed dynamic. The study revealed a very active dynamical system resulting from ants self-organizing in dome construction and confirmed that silvicultural practices can have a negative impact on ant colonies.