Statistical tests for analysing directed movement of self-organising animal groups.
We discuss some theory concerning directional data and introduce a suite of statistical tools that researchers interested in the directional movement of animal groups can use to analyse results from their models. We illustrate these tools by analysing the results of a model of groups moving under the duress of certain informed indistinguishable individuals, that arises in the context of honeybee (Apis mellifera) swarming behaviour. We modify an existing model of collective motion, based on inter-individual social interactions, allowing knowledgeable individuals to guide group members to the goal by travelling through the group in a direct line aligned with the goal direction.
Merrifield
A
A
School of Mathematics and Statistics, F07, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. alistair@maths.usyd.edu.au <alistair@maths.usyd.edu.au>
Myerscough
Mary R
MR
Weber
N
N
D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D008954:Models, Biological