Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
Microbial Interactions: Predation01:28

Microbial Interactions: Predation

Microbial predation refers to the process by which one microorganism kills and consumes another to obtain nutrients and energy. It encompasses both bacterial and protozoan predators. This interaction plays a crucial role in shaping microbial communities and regulating nutrient cycling.Bacterial Predators: Epibiotic vs. EndobioticBacterial predators are classified based on their mode of attack as either epibiotic or endobiotic. Epibiotic predators, such as Vampirococcus, attach to the surface of...
Osmoregulation in Fishes02:32

Osmoregulation in Fishes

When cells are placed in a hypotonic (low-salt) fluid, they can swell and burst. Meanwhile, cells in a hypertonic solution—with a higher salt concentration—can shrivel and die. How do fish cells avoid these gruesome fates in hypotonic freshwater or hypertonic seawater environments?

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Collective decision-making appears more egalitarian in populations where group fission costs are higher.

Biology letters·2019
Same author

Individual variation in local interaction rules can explain emergent patterns of spatial organization in wild baboons.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2017
Same author

"Leading according to need" in self-organizing groups.

The American naturalist·2009
Same author

Ecological consequences of the bold-shy continuum: the effect of predator boldness on prey risk.

Oecologia·2008
Same author

From disorder to order in marching locusts.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2006
Same author

Self-organized lane formation and optimized traffic flow in army ants.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2003

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication
07:21

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication

Published on: February 9, 2011

Predatory fish select for coordinated collective motion in virtual prey.

C C Ioannou1, V Guttal, I D Couzin

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. C.C.Ioannou@bristol.ac.uk

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 21, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Collective motion in prey animals, like schooling fish, can evolve as a defense against predators. By coordinating movement, prey are less likely to be attacked, even without detecting predators.

More Related Videos

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents
06:25

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish
10:56

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication
07:21

Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communication

Published on: February 9, 2011

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents
06:25

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish
10:56

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral ecology
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Collective animal behavior

Background:

  • Animal group movement varies from disordered swarms to coordinated flocks and schools.
  • Social interactions in groups are hypothesized to reduce predation risk, but direct evidence is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary pressures of predation on the development of collective motion in prey animals.
  • To determine if collective motion can evolve as a predator avoidance strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a unique experimental setup combining real predators (bluegill sunfish) with mobile virtual prey.
  • Fused simulated prey behavior with actual predator-prey interactions to isolate predator effects.
  • Controlled for confounding variables to ensure accurate observation of collective motion dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Prey exhibiting attraction and alignment with nearby individuals formed coordinated, mobile groups.
  • These coordinated groups experienced significantly lower attack rates from predators.
  • Collective motion emerged as an effective anti-predator behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Collective motion can evolve as a direct response to predation risk.
  • Prey do not need to actively detect or respond to predators for collective motion to provide a survival advantage.
  • This study provides empirical support for the role of predation in driving the evolution of social behavior in animal groups.