An Integrated Fire Ant Simulation and Analysis System (FASAS): A systems approach to optimizing fire ant biocontrol

An integrated fire ant simulation and analysis system (FASAS) is being developed. This system is expected to link individual colony growth to spatially referenced climate, soil and resource data reflecting the range of population densities and phorid fly and microsporidian levels in various habitats of Texas. Each monogyne and polygyne fire ant population is simulated using a spatially-explicit individual based model along with its associated phorid and microsporidian populations. This system will be used to capture within-colony and between-colony dynamics (birth, aging, growth, intrinsic mortality, and extrinsic morality) for a wide-range of climatic, soil, and habitats and will be tested using a rigorous statistically-based parameterization-verification-validation procedure. The system will also include metabolic costs associated with fire ant respiration and growth, with movement kinetics incorporated and focusing on the rate and scale of movement of brood, workers, alates, queens, and food from one mound to another. FASAS will be able to (1) track the development of multiple colonies in different stages of development and link their growth to climate and resource data reflecting the range of conditions found in Texas; (2) capture the interactions between fire ants and its parasitic phorid flies and microsporidian pathogens; and (3) identify management options that can enhance biological control. This system will provide a robust platform to integrate existing knowledge on fire ant genetics, biology, ecology, biocontrol and a quantitative basis for manipulating the fire ant, phorid, microsporidian system to enhance current levels of mortality, thereby reducing property damage, stinging incidences, and wildlife destruction by fire ants.