biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
14 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE<br />
BEHAVIOUR<br />
Research Interests<br />
My research involves the experimental and theoretical study <strong>of</strong><br />
animal collective behaviour. I combine lab and field experiments<br />
with computer simulations and mathematical models, to study<br />
phenomena such as locust bands and fish schools.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> my current main goals is to produce a synthetic model<br />
<strong>of</strong> collective behaviour in locusts. This synthetic model will<br />
be <strong>of</strong> applied relevance to locust control and, more generally,<br />
will allow me to build a new theoretical framework to study<br />
the movement <strong>of</strong> large animal groups in open spaces, at large<br />
spatial and over different temporal scales. This research will<br />
also compare major locust species found in Africa and Asia<br />
to discover the factors that lead to the markedly different<br />
patterns <strong>of</strong> movement seen amongst these species.<br />
Honours project<br />
1. Collective movement and aggregation in the Australian<br />
plague locust. <strong>The</strong> goal <strong>of</strong> this project will be to study<br />
marching, aggregation and the emergence <strong>of</strong> activity<br />
synchronization in laboratory experiments. Aggregation and<br />
marching will be experimentally manipulated in 1m diameter<br />
ring shaped arenas that can accommodate up to a thousand<br />
locusts. <strong>The</strong> ground temperature will be controlled in order to<br />
Dr Jerome Buhl<br />
Room 319A, Heydon-<br />
Laurence Building A08<br />
T: (02) 9351 2379<br />
E: jerome.buhl@sydney.<br />
edu.au<br />
stimulate marching, while aggregation will be encouraged on two competing perching/feeding<br />
spots. In combination with computer simulations, this setup will allow to quantify in details<br />
behaviour and interactions at the individual level as well as the group patterns and dynamics in<br />
order to explore the conditions in which synchronisation emerges depending on density and the<br />
nutritional composition <strong>of</strong> the group.