1.   Estimate key parameters for incorporation into the proposed fire ant model. This will be accomplished by compiling intra-colonial demographic variables from published data, expert opinion and available unpublished data, and by conducting laboratory measurements on critical parameters. When necessary, additional field experiments will be conducted to obtain critical data not available through the literature or via unpublished data.

2.   Develop an object-oriented or individual-based fire ant population model, which captures inter- and intra-colony dynamics and colony response to spatial variability in climate, habitat, and resource availability.

3. Verify and validate the spatially-referenced simulation model. This would be accomplished using existing data available through the literature and possibly via unpublished data on the seasonal and regional dynamics of fire ant. If necessary, comparative studies on population dynamics of single- versus multiple-queen colonies will be conducted.

4. Develop a user-friendly interface. The proposed model would be linked to a interface that would enable the model to address questions involving basic biological hypotheses and management optimization. A comprehensive user-interface would be developed during the 3^rd and 4^th year of the project with input from scientists representing the basic to the applied research spectrum.