Techniques In Pheromone Research

Download Techniques In Pheromone Research full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Techniques In Pheromone Research ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Techniques in Pheromone Research

Author : Hans E. Hummel
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1461252202
Total Pages : 470 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (612 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Techniques in Pheromone Research by : Hans E. Hummel

Download or read book Techniques in Pheromone Research written by Hans E. Hummel and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Insects as a group occupy a middle ground in the biosphere between bacteria and viruses at one extreme, amphibians and mammals at the other. The size and general nature of insects present special problems to the student of entomology. For example, many commercially available instruments are geared to measure in grams, while the forces commonly encountered in studying insects are in the milligram range. Therefore, techniques developed in the study of insects or in those fields concerned with the control of insect pests are often unique. Methods for measuring things are common to all sciences. Advances sometimes depend more on how something was done than on what was measured; indeed a given field often progresses from one technique to another as new methods are discovered, developed, and modified. Just as often, some of these techniques find their way into the classroom when the problems involved have been suffi ciently ironed out to permit students to master the manipulations in a few lab oratory periods. Many specialized techniques are confined to one specific research laboratory. Although methods may be considered commonplace where they are used, in another context even the simplest procedures may save considerable time. It is the purpose of this series (1) to report new developments in methodology, (2) to reveal sources of groups who have dealt with and solved particular entomo logical problems, and (3) to describe experiments which may be applicable for use in biology laboratory co~rses.

Pheromone Signaling

Author : Kazushige Touhara
Publisher : Humana Press
ISBN 13 : 9781627036207
Total Pages : 399 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (362 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pheromone Signaling by : Kazushige Touhara

Download or read book Pheromone Signaling written by Kazushige Touhara and published by Humana Press. This book was released on 2013-09-07 with total page 399 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing experimental methods and protocols for performing pheromone research in a variety of organisms ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates, Pheromone Signaling: Methods and Protocols covers a wide spectrum of experimental approaches necessary for handling pheromone molecules, measuring receptor response and neural activation, and analyzing behavioral output. A great deal of progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying pheromone action, largely due to the discovery of receptor genes, the advancement of imaging techniques, and key multi-disciplinary approaches including aspects of organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, electrophysiology, and behavioral science. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips for troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Pheromone Signaling: Methods and Protocols details the key methodologies utilized in laboratories all over the world, making them accessible to those who want to begin investigation in the area of pheromone research.

Neurobiology of Chemical Communication

Author : Carla Mucignat-Caretta
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1466553413
Total Pages : 614 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (665 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Neurobiology of Chemical Communication by : Carla Mucignat-Caretta

Download or read book Neurobiology of Chemical Communication written by Carla Mucignat-Caretta and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2014-02-14 with total page 614 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Intraspecific communication involves the activation of chemoreceptors and subsequent activation of different central areas that coordinate the responses of the entire organism—ranging from behavioral modification to modulation of hormones release. Animals emit intraspecific chemical signals, often referred to as pheromones, to advertise their presence to members of the same species and to regulate interactions aimed at establishing and regulating social and reproductive bonds. In the last two decades, scientists have developed a greater understanding of the neural processing of these chemical signals. Neurobiology of Chemical Communication explores the role of the chemical senses in mediating intraspecific communication. Providing an up-to-date outline of the most recent advances in the field, it presents data from laboratory and wild species, ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates, from insects to humans. The book examines the structure, anatomy, electrophysiology, and molecular biology of pheromones. It discusses how chemical signals work on different mammalian and non-mammalian species and includes chapters on insects, Drosophila, honey bees, amphibians, mice, tigers, and cattle. It also explores the controversial topic of human pheromones. An essential reference for students and researchers in the field of pheromones, this is also an ideal resource for those working on behavioral phenotyping of animal models and persons interested in the biology/ecology of wild and domestic species.

Pheromone Signaling

Author : Kazushige Touhara
Publisher : Humana
ISBN 13 : 9781493960125
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (61 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pheromone Signaling by : Kazushige Touhara

Download or read book Pheromone Signaling written by Kazushige Touhara and published by Humana. This book was released on 2016-08-23 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing experimental methods and protocols for performing pheromone research in a variety of organisms ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates, Pheromone Signaling: Methods and Protocols covers a wide spectrum of experimental approaches necessary for handling pheromone molecules, measuring receptor response and neural activation, and analyzing behavioral output. A great deal of progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying pheromone action, largely due to the discovery of receptor genes, the advancement of imaging techniques, and key multi-disciplinary approaches including aspects of organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, electrophysiology, and behavioral science. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips for troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Pheromone Signaling: Methods and Protocols details the key methodologies utilized in laboratories all over the world, making them accessible to those who want to begin investigation in the area of pheromone research.

Insect Pheromone Research

Author : R.T. Carde
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1461563712
Total Pages : 697 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (615 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Insect Pheromone Research by : R.T. Carde

Download or read book Insect Pheromone Research written by R.T. Carde and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 697 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book contains the proceedings of the "First International Symposium on Insect Pheromones," which was held at Wageningen, The Netherlands, from March 6 to March 11, 1994. Eighty participants from 17 countries attended the symposium, which turned out to be a unique forum for the exchange of the latest worldwide findings on insect pheromones, an opportunity to discuss and debate unsettled issues, and a mechanism to define new directions in pheromone research and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. The meeting comprised five sessions representing the breadth of disciplinary interest in pheromones, a typical charac teristic of this research area. In the sessions the following topics were presented: (1) control of pheromone production (organized by W. L. Roelofs), (2) sensory processing of pheromone signals (T. L. Payne), (3) neuroethology of pheromone mediated responses (T. C. Baker), (4) use of pheromones in direct control (A. K. Minks and R. T. Card6), and (5) evolution of pheromone communication (c. LOfstedt). All sessions started with a series of 30-minute lectures, after which ample time was reserved for discussion. In each session some participants were asked to serve as discussants and to initiate and stimulate discussion, and a rapporteur was recruited to make notes of these discussions and to summarize the general trends emerging from the session. The general program ming of the symposium was in the hands of R. T. Carde, A. K. Minks, and T. L. Payne.

Chromatography and Isolation of Insect Hormones and Pheromones

Author : A.R. McCaffery
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1468480626
Total Pages : 372 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (684 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Chromatography and Isolation of Insect Hormones and Pheromones by : A.R. McCaffery

Download or read book Chromatography and Isolation of Insect Hormones and Pheromones written by A.R. McCaffery and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The connection between the study of insects. their development. behaviour and biochemistry. and chromatography is perhaps not immediately obvious. However. this connection exists and it is of fundamental importance to our understanding of many areas of insect physiology. Insects range in size from small to minute and consequently the amounts of hormones or pheromones they produce are equally minute. Ultimately any attempt at understanding the processes which control development, social behaviour or the biochemistry of insects requires some means of isolating the tiny quantities of the hormones and pheromones responsible in sufficient quantity and purity for identification. The ability to devise novel techniques to separate these materials from frequently complex biological mixtures including precursors and metabolites and to devise detection systems for them is vital. Methods for the quantification of these substances at different stages in the life cycle. or in response to environmental change or stress. are then essential. Chromatography. both as a means for isolation and as a method for quantitative analysis. has "been an essential tool in these studies. This volume represents the outcome of a joint international symposium organized by the Chromatographic and Royal Entomological Societies at the University of Reading between the 21st and 23rd March 1989 aimed specifically at discussing the chromatography and isolation of insect hormones. pheromones and related substances.The papers presented at that meeting. and collected together here. covered many aspects of the subject including the chromatography of juvenile hormones. ecdysteroids. peptides. pheromones and semio chemicals.

Pheromones and Animal Behavior

Author : Tristram D. Wyatt
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 0521112907
Total Pages : 425 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (211 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pheromones and Animal Behavior by : Tristram D. Wyatt

Download or read book Pheromones and Animal Behavior written by Tristram D. Wyatt and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2014-01-23 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explains how animals use chemical communication, emphasising the evolutionary context and covering fields from ecology to neuroscience and chemistry.

Pheromone Communication in Moths

Author : Jeremy D. Allison
Publisher : Univ of California Press
ISBN 13 : 0520964438
Total Pages : 416 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (29 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pheromone Communication in Moths by : Jeremy D. Allison

Download or read book Pheromone Communication in Moths written by Jeremy D. Allison and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2016-10-25 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Common among moths is a mate-finding system in which females emit a pheromone that induces males to fly upwind along the pheromone plume. Since the chemical pheromone of the domesticated silk moth was identified in 1959, a steady increase in the number of moth species whose pheromone attractants have been identified now results in a rich base for review and synthesis. Pheromone Communication in Moths summarizes moth pheromone biology, covering the chemical structures used by the various lineages, signal production and perception, the genetic control of moth pheromone traits, interactions of pheromones with host-plant volatiles, pheromone dispersal and orientation, male pheromones and courtship, and the evolutionary forces that have likely shaped pheromone signals and their role in sexual selection. Also included are chapters on practical applications in the control and monitoring of pest species as well as case studies that address pheromone systems in a number of species and groups of closely allied species. Pheromone Communication in Moths is an invaluable resource for entomologists, chemical ecologists, pest-management scientists, and professionals who study pheromone communication and pest management.

Insect Sex Pheromone Research and Beyond

Author : Yukio Ishikawa
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 9811530823
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (115 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Insect Sex Pheromone Research and Beyond by : Yukio Ishikawa

Download or read book Insect Sex Pheromone Research and Beyond written by Yukio Ishikawa and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-03-19 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a complete overview of cutting-edge research on insect sex pheromones and pheromone communication systems. The coverage ranges from the chemistry, biosynthesis, and reception of sex pheromones to the control of odor-source searching behavior, and from molecules to the application of research findings to robotics. The book both summarizes the progress of studies conducted using Bombyx mori and several groups of moths and reviews sex pheromones of some non-lepidopteran insect groups of agricultural importance. Attention is drawn to recent findings on elaborate neural information processing in the brain in male moths and to the importance of olfactory receptors specifically tuned to sex pheromone molecules. Featuring contributions from leading experts on the topic, this book will be a unique and valuable resource for researchers and students in the fields of entomology, chemical ecology, insect physiology and biochemistry, evolution, biomimetics, and bioengineering. In addition to researchers, general insect lovers will find the book fascinating for its descriptions of the marvelous abilities of insects and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Insect Pheromone Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Author : Gary Blomquist
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0128196297
Total Pages : 751 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (281 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Insect Pheromone Biochemistry and Molecular Biology by : Gary Blomquist

Download or read book Insect Pheromone Biochemistry and Molecular Biology written by Gary Blomquist and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-09-18 with total page 751 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Insect Pheromone Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Second Edition, provides an updated and comprehensive review of the biochemistry and molecular biology of insect pheromone biosynthesis and reception. The book ties together historical information with recent discoveries, provides the reader with the current state of the field, and suggests where future research is headed. Written by international experts, many of whom pioneered studies on insect pheromone production and reception, this release updates the 2003 first edition with an emphasis on recent advances in the field. This book will be an important resource for entomologists and molecular biologists studying all areas of insect communication. Offers a historical and contemporary perspective, with a focus on advances over the last 15 years Discusses the molecular and regulatory mechanisms underlying pheromone production/detection, as well as the evolution of these processes across the insects Led by editors with broad expertise in the metabolic pathways of pheromone production and the biochemical and genetic processes of pheromone detection

Pheromones and Animal Behaviour

Author : Tristram D. Wyatt
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780521485265
Total Pages : 412 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (852 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pheromones and Animal Behaviour by : Tristram D. Wyatt

Download or read book Pheromones and Animal Behaviour written by Tristram D. Wyatt and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2003-02-27 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We are entering one of the most exciting periods in the study of chemical communication since the first pheromones were identified some 40 years ago. This rapid progress is reflected in this book, the first to cover the whole animal kingdom at this level for 25 years. The importance of chemical communication is illustrated with examples from a diverse range of animals including humans, marine copepods, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, moths, snakes, goldfish, elephants and mice. It is designed to be advanced, but at the same time accessible to readers whatever their scientific background. For students of ecology, evolution and behaviour, this book gives an introduction to the rapid progress in our understanding of olfaction at the molecular and neurological level. In addition, it offers chemists, molecular and neurobiologists an insight into the ecological, evolutionary and behavioural context of olfactory communication.

Insect Pheromones and their Use in Pest Management

Author : P. Howse
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9401153442
Total Pages : 377 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (11 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Insect Pheromones and their Use in Pest Management by : P. Howse

Download or read book Insect Pheromones and their Use in Pest Management written by P. Howse and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-12-01 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is now a considerable literature on chemical ecology, which had its beginnings in the study of insect pheromones. This beginning was possible only by combining the disciplines and techniques of biology and chemistry. For a biologist, it is difficult to understand the time frames of analytical and synthetic chemistry. A compound may take days to characterize and be available in minutes from a bottle on the shelf, or it may take years to characterize and synthesize. Chemists have a similar frustration: after an intense programme of work, the insect in question may not emerge for many months. study are, however, The rewards of integrated interdisciplinary considerable, because they allow us to understand many facets of insect behaviour and consequently to control that behaviour for our own ends. In this book, we have set out to explain the results of research from chemical and biological perspectives, and see how the knowledge gained has led to novel techniques that can be used in insect pest management and insect control. An important part of understanding insect chemical ecology involves the understanding not only of new concepts but of the vocabularies used by scientists specializing in different fields. It will be clear that the three sections of this book have been written by three different people: an insect behaviourist, an organic chemist and a biologist in industry.

Environments for Multi-Agent Systems

Author : Danny Weyns
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3540245758
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (42 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Environments for Multi-Agent Systems by : Danny Weyns

Download or read book Environments for Multi-Agent Systems written by Danny Weyns and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2005-02-10 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This modern field of multi-agent systems has developed from two main lines of earlier research: its practitioners generally regard it as a form of distributed artificial intelligence, whereas some researchers have persistently advocated ideas from the field of artificial life. AI agents (and their designers) usually take the environment for agent interaction as granted. From the ALife perspective and for ALife agents, the environment for interaction is an active participant in agent dynamics, a first class member of the overall systems. This book originates from the First International Workshop on Environments for Multi-Agent Systems, E4MAS 2004, held in New York, NY, USA in July 2004 as a satellite workshop of AAMAS 2004. The 13 carefully selected reviewed and revised papers presented together with an introductory survey article of close to 50 pages are organized in topical sections on conceptual models, language for design and specification, simulation and environments, mediated coordination, and applications.

The Great Pheromone Myth

Author : Richard L. Doty
Publisher : JHU Press
ISBN 13 : 0801898102
Total Pages : 293 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (18 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Great Pheromone Myth by : Richard L. Doty

Download or read book The Great Pheromone Myth written by Richard L. Doty and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2010-02-01 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mammalian pheromones, audiomones, visuomones, and snarks—Richard Doty argues that they all belong in the same category: objects of imagination. For more than 50 years, researchers—including many prominent scientists—have identified pheromones as the triggers for a wide range of mammalian behaviors and endocrine responses. In this provocative book, renowned olfaction expert Richard L. Doty rejects this idea and states bluntly that, in contrast to insects, mammals do not have pheromones. Doty systematically debunks the claims and conclusions of studies that purport to reveal the existence of mammalian pheromones. He demonstrates that there is no generally accepted scientific definition of what constitutes a mammalian pheromone and that attempts to divide stimuli and complex behaviors into pheromonal and nonpheromonal categories have primarily failed. Doty's controversial assertion belies a continued fascination with the pheromone concept, numerous claims of its chemical isolation, and what he sees as the wasted expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars by industry and government. The Great Pheromone Myth directly challenges ideas about the role chemicals play in mammalian behavior and reproductive processes. It is a must-have reference for biologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and readers interested in animal behavior, ecology, and evolution.

Fish Pheromones and Related Cues

Author : P. W. Sorensen
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0813823862
Total Pages : 305 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (138 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Fish Pheromones and Related Cues by : P. W. Sorensen

Download or read book Fish Pheromones and Related Cues written by P. W. Sorensen and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-03-16 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pheromones are chemical cues that pass between members of the same species that convey specific, adaptive information. These cues, and related chemicals whose function are less well defined, are especially important to fishes because of their aquatic environments and complex behaviors. Pheromones are also of increasing interest in both basic and applied aspects of fish biology because they can be used to manipulate fish behavior and may explain phenomena such as fishery collapse. Fish Pheromones and Related Cues provides a timely synthesis of this growing body of research in freshwater and marine species and explores everything from how these chemical signals evolved, are produced, released and then processed, and finally to potential applications in fish culture and conservation. Fish Pheromones and Related Cues opens with a useful overview on the theory of chemical communication and definitions. Chapters then progress by examining the biological importance of pheromones in inter- and intra-species communication, the role these chemical cues play in a variety biological functions from reproduction to predation, and then how they evolved and are detected and recognized by fish nervous systems. Final chapters provide valuable insight into how pheromones can be measured, how pheromonal disruption can explain effects of environmental pollution, and lastly how they pheromones are being applied in real-world efforts to culture fish species and to conserve our wild populations and control invasive species. With far-reaching economic, evolutionary and ecological implications, Fish Pheromones and Related Cues will be an essential volume for anyone working in the fields of chemical communication, fish biology, fisheries science, aquatic conservation, ecology, invasive species control, and aquaculture

Chemical Communication

Author : William C. Agosta
Publisher : Macmillan
ISBN 13 : 0716750368
Total Pages : 197 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (167 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Chemical Communication by : William C. Agosta

Download or read book Chemical Communication written by William C. Agosta and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 1992 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A wounded minnow attempts to rejoin its school and the other minnows scatter in panic; a single beetle finds a pine tree to its liking and soon thousands of beetles swarm that tree and others in the vicinity; a male Syrian golden hamster is drawn along an invisible trail to a burrow where a female hamster awaits him, ready for mating. These animals are responding to received communications, but, as in countless other occurrences in nature, the language is not auditory or visual--it is chemical. Unlike humans, who gather information largely through sight and sound, most living creatures rely heavily on chemical compounds from other organisms for their basic knowledge of the world. Among the various types of these compounds are the chemical signals exchanged between members of the same species that govern social interactions crucial to survival. These signals are called pheromones (from the Greek "pherein"--to carry--and "hormon"--exciting) and they are used to send warnings, establish territorial boundaries, provoke aggression, control sexual behavior, and locate food. In this volume, organic chemist William C. Agosta explores the chemistry of pheromones and the mechanisms by which they orchestrate animal behavior. Professor Agosta details the intricate process of identifying pheromones: first establishing that some behavior in animals is chemically driven, then isolating pheromones and determining the active components within these sometimes highly complex mixtures. He also demonstrates the value of this growing body of knowledge to our understanding of evolution, ecology, human behavior, and agricultural production. The result is a fascinating look at a research area that bringstogether investigators, information, technologies, and procedures from the fields of biology, chemistry, and behavioral science. Chemical Communication spans the entire spectrum of life, from simple organisms, such as water molds and brown algae, to insects, birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, and in a provocative final chapter, human beings. Along the way, Dr. Agosta provides dozens of captivating examples of pheromones in action: certain male red-sided garter snakes, which increase their chances of mating successfully by "impersonating" a female, thus distracting rivals; or the bolas spiders, which capture male moths by hitting them with an adhesive ball on a string after emitting a female moth pheromone that lures the males within range. The book also includes important evidence that pheromones alter physiology as well as behavior. For example, young female mice reach maturity at an accelerated pace after constant exposure to adult male mice.

Ant Colony Optimization

Author : Marco Dorigo
Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 9780262042192
Total Pages : 324 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (421 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Ant Colony Optimization by : Marco Dorigo

Download or read book Ant Colony Optimization written by Marco Dorigo and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2004-06-04 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An overview of the rapidly growing field of ant colony optimization that describes theoretical findings, the major algorithms, and current applications. The complex social behaviors of ants have been much studied by science, and computer scientists are now finding that these behavior patterns can provide models for solving difficult combinatorial optimization problems. The attempt to develop algorithms inspired by one aspect of ant behavior, the ability to find what computer scientists would call shortest paths, has become the field of ant colony optimization (ACO), the most successful and widely recognized algorithmic technique based on ant behavior. This book presents an overview of this rapidly growing field, from its theoretical inception to practical applications, including descriptions of many available ACO algorithms and their uses. The book first describes the translation of observed ant behavior into working optimization algorithms. The ant colony metaheuristic is then introduced and viewed in the general context of combinatorial optimization. This is followed by a detailed description and guide to all major ACO algorithms and a report on current theoretical findings. The book surveys ACO applications now in use, including routing, assignment, scheduling, subset, machine learning, and bioinformatics problems. AntNet, an ACO algorithm designed for the network routing problem, is described in detail. The authors conclude by summarizing the progress in the field and outlining future research directions. Each chapter ends with bibliographic material, bullet points setting out important ideas covered in the chapter, and exercises. Ant Colony Optimization will be of interest to academic and industry researchers, graduate students, and practitioners who wish to learn how to implement ACO algorithms.