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The secret of animal gatherings: Why do they always move in groups?
In nature, animals often behave in fascinating groups. This phenomenon is called "herding behavior" and is particularly evident in certain species. Whether it’s flocks of birds, schools of fish, or dances of insects, these behaviors demonstrate the intelligence of group action.
Shed behavior occurs when members of a group of animals come together in certain ways, usually without a clear leader or central command, but driven by simple rules.
A classic example is "convergence flight" of birds, in which birds adjust based on the movements and positions of other birds nearby. Not only do they influence each other's actions, but they can also jointly display a kind of "intelligence", which makes the entire group safer when facing predators or moving.
The importance of this group behavior is not limited to protecting themselves from threats, it also performs functions such as hunting, finding food and mating. In some cases, this behavior among animal groups can even increase the survival rate of individuals. Why do animals choose to gather together? What biological and environmental factors are behind this?
Evolutionary roots of flocking behavior
Many scientists believe that group behavior in animals is an evolutionary adaptation. Whether chasing food, increasing mating opportunities, or ensuring safety, these behaviors give the group an advantage in survival and reproduction. Remarkably, this behavior does not require a single decision-maker, but rather forms a self-organizing system in which each animal responds according to simple rules about its surroundings.
In these groups, interactions between individuals can replicate greater intelligence, which is called "group intelligence."
Scientific Analysis of Swarm Behavior
Scientists use mathematical models and computer simulations to study this phenomenon. The earliest simulations date back to 1986, when the "boids" program used simple rules to simulate the flight behavior of birds. These rules include: keeping distance from neighbors, aligning and maintaining a consistent direction, and avoiding collisions.
Recent research shows that each bird adjusts not just to distance, but also to its relative position to the six or seven other birds around it, even as the distances between those birds change. Such topology-based rules are a fascinating and more complex aspect of swarming behavior.
Interactions with other mobs
In such groups, the behavior of social insects such as ants and bees is particularly striking. The collective action of ants embodies the power of collaboration, which is the complexity that emerges from simple interactions among each other. These insects do not require any form of leadership, but instead respond to changes in their surroundings to form an efficient cooperative system.
SummaryAlthough individual behavior seems random, the behavior of the entire group shows amazing coordination, which is the so-called "self-organization" phenomenon.
Group behavior is not only a common phenomenon in the animal kingdom, but also provides important insights into biological research, artificial intelligence, and the development of robotics. This makes us think about how life works and how the interactions between different species form a complex and efficient system. This system can demonstrate remarkable intelligence without central control. Does it also allow us to have a deeper understanding of the wonders of nature?
