Intermittent collective dynamics emerge from conflicting imperatives in sheep herds

Authored by Guy Theraulaz, Francesco Ginelli, Fernando Peruani, Marie-Helene Pillot, Hugues Chate, Richard Bon

Date Published: 2015

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1503749112

Sponsors: French National Research Agency (ANR)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Among the many fascinating examples of collective behavior exhibited by animal groups, some species are known to alternate slow group dispersion in space with rapid aggregation phenomena induced by a sudden behavioral shift at the individual level. We study this phenomenon quantitatively in large groups of grazing Merino sheep under controlled experimental conditions. Our analysis reveals strongly intermittent collective dynamics consisting of fast, avalanche-like regrouping events distributed on all experimentally accessible scales. As a proof of principle, we introduce an agent-based model with individual behavioral shifts, which we show to account faithfully for all collective properties observed. This offers, in turn, an insight on the individual stimulus/response functions that can generate such intermittent behavior. In particular, the intensity of sheep allelomimetic behavior plays a key role in the group's ability to increase the per capita grazing surface while minimizing the time needed to regroup into a tightly packed configuration. We conclude that the emergent behavior reported probably arises from the necessity to balance two conflicting imperatives: ( i) the exploration of foraging space by individuals and ( ii) the protection from predators offered by being part of large, cohesive groups. We discuss our results in the context of the current debate about criticality in biology.

Tags

behavior Decision-Making Predation patterns Animal groups Transition Starling flocks Marine insect Selfish-herd Fish