Metadata for the images/videos:
Metadata, in general, just means "data about data"... that is, how/where/why/when was the primary data collected. This information is necessary to be able to understand the data itself. For example, if you don't know where and when the data were collected, what units the measurements are expressed in, or what species were observed, you can't really use the data for much.
These images of Atta colombica ants were obtained in Gamboa, Panama by Jeremy Wojdak, Myra Hughey, and Justin Touchon. Images were obtained for three time periods: December 5th 2012 3-4pm, December 6th 2012 9-10am, and 12-1pm.
The area studied was marginal, disturbed forest on the edge of residential neighborhoods. In particular, ants were photographed as they traversed a liana (woody vine) across a small stream. This particular path was chosen because it constrained the ants to move across a very narrow path, which helped keep the subjects in focus in the photographs.
Still images were obtained with a Nikon d300 digital camera with a Tokina 105mm macro lens with external flash and lighting units. A centimeter scale bar was included in each still image for scale.
Videos of ants walking were also obtained using a Sony HD video camera. An 11.0 cm distance was marked with cut marks in the liana to define a path of known distance. Thus, the speed of ants crossing this path could be calculated by noting the number of frames of video (each 1/29th of a second) needed to traverse the known distance, or by using a stopwatch to time the trip.
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