The behavioral mechanisms governing collective motion in swarming locusts

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Sayin, Sercan; Couzin-Fuchs, Einat; Petelski, Inga; Guenzel, Yannick; Salahshour, Mohammad; Lee, Chi-Yu; Graving, Jacob M.; Li, Liang; Deussen, Oliver; Sword, Gregory A.; Couzin, Iain D.
• 署名单位: University of Konstanz; Max Planck Society; University of Konstanz; Max Planck Society; University of Konstanz; Texas A&M University System; Texas A&M University College Station
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-10536
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adq7832
• 发表日期: 2025-02-28
• 页码: 995-1000
• 关键词: cannibalism; TRANSITION

摘要

Collective motion, which is ubiquitous in nature, has traditionally been explained by self-propelled particle models from theoretical physics. Here we show, through field, lab, and virtual reality experimentation, that classical models of collective behavior cannot account for how collective motion emerges in marching desert locusts, whose swarms affect the livelihood of millions. In contrast to assumptions made by these models, locusts do not explicitly align with neighbors. While individuals respond to moving-dot stimuli through the optomotor response, this innate behavior does not mediate social response to neighbors. Instead, locust marching behavior, across scales, can be explained by a minimal cognitive framework, which incorporates individuals' neural representation of bearings to neighbors and internal consensus dynamics for making directional choices. Our findings challenge long-held beliefs about how order can emerge from disorder in animal collectives.