Modeling of population dynamics and mutualist interactions in leaf-cutting ants and symbiotic fungus

• Grant number: 23/08286-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Wesley Augusto Conde Godoy
• Grantee: João Vitor Mendes Ferraz de Toledo
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ)
• Associated research grant: 18/02317-5 - Center for Excellence in Biological Control, AP.PCPE

Abstract

The control of leaf-cutting ants is mostly carried out through chemical, cultural and physical techniques, however, cultural and physical methods are restricted by practical issues associated with the size of the area. In addition, the chemical control is generally restricted to highly toxic formulations. This condition contributed to restrictions on the use of products in several countries. In particular, granulated baits, some carbamates and phosphates are limited in widespread use. This show that scientific advancement is necessary to better understand ecological interaction within the colony. Only after a deep understanding of various ecological aspects of the system, such as the mutualistic interaction between left-cutting ants and their fungus, the correct management measures can be planned for leaf-cutting ants management programs. Leaf-cutter ants are part of a very complex system, which is why mathematical and/or computational modeling are recommended tools both for understanding the system and for making space-time predictions generated by numerical simulations. Thus, the present work aims to develop a model for development of the volume of the symbiont fungus based on the population growth of a colony of the genus atta, with proposed approaches by Hollad and DeAngelis, 2010 and KANG et al., 2011.