Work

Onset of collective motion in locusts is captured by a minimal model

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: We present a minimal model to describe the onset of collective motion seen when a population of locusts are placed in an annular arena. At low densities motion is disordered, while at high densities locusts march in a common direction, which may reverse during the experiment. The data are well captured by an individual-based model, in which demographic noise leads to the observed density-dependent effects. By fitting the model parameters to equation-free coefficients, we give a quantitative comparison, showing time series, stationary distributions, and the mean switching times between states.

Source: Physical Review E

DOI: 10.1103/physreve.92.052708

Authors: Louise Dyson, Christian A. Yates, Camille Buhl, Alan J. McKane

Institutions: University of Manchester, University of Warwick, University of Bath, The University of Adelaide

Language: English

Topic: Evacuation and Crowd Dynamics

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Australian Research Council

Award: G3853901534