E. Bonabeau et al., FIXED RESPONSE THRESHOLDS AND THE REGULATION OF DIVISION-OF-LABOR IN INSECT SOCIETIES, Bulletin of mathematical biology, 60(4), 1998, pp. 753-807
We introduce a simple mathematical model of regulation of division of
labor in insect societies based on fixed-response thresholds. Individu
als with different thresholds respond differently to task-associated s
timuli. Low-threshold individuals become involved at a lower level of
stimulus than high-threshold individuals. We show that this simple mod
el can account for experimental observations of Wilson (1984), extend
the model to more complicated situations, explore its properties, and
study under what conditions it can account for temporal polyethism. (C
) 1998 Society for Mathematical Biology.