New Advances in the Study of Group Behavior in Bats

摘要: The collective behavior of organisms results in spectacular displays that have inspired scientific inquiry for centuries. Recently, rich theoretical work has complemented traditional biological observation to offer fresh insights into the function and mechanisms animal groups. Although these studies unquestionably advanced our understanding dynamics groups, further progress will depend on ability reconcile numerical methods with empirical data from realistic, field-based existing, as well new, models. Fortunately, technical challenges associated collecting such large, free-ranging groups are becoming less daunting a new generation field-portable technologies becomes increasingly available. By combining novel analytical approaches better integration different modalities, it is now possible produce stunningly informative representations group bats intriguing potentially those other until difficulty access inhibited studying how structure maintain their Here we present some first large colonies bats. Our initial investigations vivid glimpses mammals underscore value importance this focus experimental research field. Such could not only reveal more about functional complexity nature inform but suggest principles by which organize might even improve own society.