biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

14 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
BEHAVIOUR
Research Interests
My research involves the experimental and theoretical study of
animal collective behaviour. I combine lab and field experiments
with computer simulations and mathematical models, to study
phenomena such as locust bands and fish schools.
One of my current main goals is to produce a synthetic model
of collective behaviour in locusts. This synthetic model will
be of applied relevance to locust control and, more generally,
will allow me to build a new theoretical framework to study
the movement of large animal groups in open spaces, at large
spatial and over different temporal scales. This research will
also compare major locust species found in Africa and Asia
to discover the factors that lead to the markedly different
patterns of movement seen amongst these species.
Honours project
1. Collective movement and aggregation in the Australian
plague locust. The goal of this project will be to study
marching, aggregation and the emergence of activity
synchronization in laboratory experiments. Aggregation and
marching will be experimentally manipulated in 1m diameter
ring shaped arenas that can accommodate up to a thousand
locusts. The ground temperature will be controlled in order to
Dr Jerome Buhl
Room 319A, Heydon-
Laurence Building A08
T: (02) 9351 2379
E: jerome.buhl@sydney.
edu.au
stimulate marching, while aggregation will be encouraged on two competing perching/feeding
spots. In combination with computer simulations, this setup will allow to quantify in details
behaviour and interactions at the individual level as well as the group patterns and dynamics in
order to explore the conditions in which synchronisation emerges depending on density and the
nutritional composition of the group.