Collective motion diminishes, but variation between groups emerges, through time in fish shoals.

ABSTRACT: Despite extensive interest in the dynamic interactions between individuals that drive collective motion in animal groups, the dynamics of collective motion over longer time frames are understudied. Using three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, randomly assigned to 12 shoals of eight fish, we tested how six key traits of collective motion changed over shorter (within trials) and longer (between days) timescales under controlled laboratory conditions. Over both timescales, groups became less social with reduced cohesion, polarization, group speed and information transfer. There was consistent inter-group variation (i.e. collective personality variation) for all collective motion parameters, but groups also differed in how their collective motion changed over days in their c

SUBMITTER: MacGregor HEA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8527212 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature