PASSAROLA · Statistical and dynamical analysis of collective behaviour in a three-dimensional motion: Empirical studies and modelling

Collective behaviour is ubiquitous in living systems such as flocks of birds, swarms of insects or schools of fishes. It occurs for several reasons which go from predator protection to mating. To better understand those living systems it is therefore important to understand how collective behaviour emerges and its features. For large flocks of birds and swarms of insects little work has been made from the perspective of empirical and statistical analysis towards modelling of different types. This proposal aims to make a comprehensive data acquisition of three-dimensional data of position and trajectories of elements in groups of flying animals for posterior statistical, dynamical and non-linear analysis characterisation and consequent modelling. It corresponds to the first broad approach to collective phenomena starting from measuring real features in order to reproduce them. After this study it will be possible to understand to fundamental principles of aggregation of birds and some species of insects and to appraise whether those mechanisms are common in flocking and swarming. To that, a interdisciplinary approach involving the fields of Biology (Animal Behaviour),