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The organization of work in social insect colonies

Nature volume 380, pages 121–124 (1996)Cite this article

In social insect colonies, workers perform a variety of tasks, such as foraging, brood care and nest construction. As the needs of the colony change, and as resources become available, colonies adjust the numbers of workers engaged in each task. Task allocation is the process that results in specific workers being engaged in specific tasks, in numbers appropriate to the current situation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305-5020, USA

    Deborah M. Gordon

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  1. Deborah M. Gordon
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Gordon, D. The organization of work in social insect colonies. Nature 380, 121–124 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/380121a0

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