| Bug Camp for Kids is part of the PSU Department of Entomology's outreach program. This year a module was tied together insect sociality, behavior and the significance of space to populations. Approximately 45 7 - 11 year olds divided into teams representing social insect colonies (ants!). Within each colony they assigned scouting and forager tasks among individuals. The former had to explore a large area for food resources needed by the colony. Once found each scout recruited foragers by leaving a pheromone trail back to the nest. Two colonies were competing for the resources within the same spatial arena. |
After the exercise students were introduced to how space can be very important for understanding population and community dynamics of insects. The foraging trails of these 'ant colonies' were made using the GPS, and from that map concepts of landscape heterogeneity, energetics and competion presented. |