5 ms·
Considering the colony as a superorganism, this could be primarily to serve the purpose of redundancy/slack, so that losses or shocks can be continually replace
by dood 9y ago
Considering the colony as a superorganism, this could be primarily to serve the purpose of redundancy/slack, so that losses or shocks can be continually replaced/responded to, in order to maintain a systemic homeostasis. Though 40% of individuals inactive does seem a large proportion, but perhaps they use little energy.
- otakucode 9y agoI think that is a big part of it. There appears to be no consideration that those "hard working" ants are not pure good for the colony. They're burning significant energy. And if that energy is being burned in counter-productive or non-productive ways, they are a net harm to the colony, not a benefit.