Animal collective behaviors give rise to various spatial patterns, such as the nests of social insects. These structures are built by individuals following a simple set of rules, slightly varying within and among species, to produce a large diversity of shapes. However, little is known about the origin and evolution of the behavioral mechanisms regulating nest structures. In this study, we discuss the perspective of inferring the evolution of collective behaviors behind pattern formations using a phylogenetic framework. We review the collective behaviors that can be described by a single set of behavioral rules, and for which variations of the environmental and behavioral parameter values produce diverse patterns. We propose that this mechanism could be at the origin of the pattern diversity observed among related species, and that, when they are placed in the proper conditions, species have the behavioral potential to form patterns observed in related species. The comparative analysis of shelter tube construction by lower termites is consistent with this hypothesis. Although the use of shelter tubes in natural conditions is variable among species, most modern species have the potential to build them, suggesting that the behavioral rules for shelter tube construction evolved once in the common ancestor of modern termites. Our study emphasizes that comparative studies of behavioral rules have the potential to shed light on the evolution of collective behaviors.

中文翻译：

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现代白蚁从其共同祖先那里继承了集体建设的潜力。

动物的集体行为引起各种空间格局，例如社交昆虫的巢。这些结构是由个人按照一套简单的规则建造的，这些规则在物种内部和物种之间略有不同，以产生各种各样的形状。但是，对调控巢结构的行为机制的起源和演变知之甚少。在这项研究中，我们讨论了使用系统进化框架推断模式形成背后的集体行为演变的观点。我们回顾了可以由一组行为规则来描述的集体行为，并且针对这些行为，环境和行为参数值的变化会产生不同的模式。我们认为，这种机制可能是相关物种间观察到的模式多样性的起源，并且，当将它们置于适当条件下时，物种具有形成相关物种中观察到的模式的行为潜能。下白蚁对遮蔽管构造的比较分析与该假设一致。尽管在自然条件下使用遮蔽管的物种之间存在差异，但大多数现代物种都有建造它们的潜力，这表明遮蔽管构造的行为规则是在现代白蚁的共同祖先中进化出来的。我们的研究强调，对行为规则的比较研究有可能阐明集体行为的演变。下白蚁建造遮蔽管的比较分析与该假设一致。尽管在自然条件下使用遮蔽管的物种之间存在差异，但大多数现代物种都有建造它们的潜力，这表明遮蔽管构造的行为规则是在现代白蚁的共同祖先中进化出来的。我们的研究强调，对行为规则的比较研究有可能阐明集体行为的演变。下白蚁对遮蔽管构造的比较分析与该假设一致。尽管在自然条件下使用遮蔽管的物种之间存在差异，但大多数现代物种都有建造它们的潜力，这表明遮蔽管构造的行为规则是在现代白蚁的共同祖先中进化出来的。我们的研究强调，对行为规则的比较研究有可能阐明集体行为的演变。