The Rules of the Flock

Swarm behaviour and swarm intelligence have in recent years attracted much attention.

However, by applying techniques of physics to the swarm behaviour of animal communities, we can begin to understand how such collective patterns can emerge in a self-organized way.

Preface; Introduction1 ; 2 The 8th Plague; 3 The Onset of Connectivity; 4 The Birds of Rome; 5 Spins and Magnets; 6 The Rules of the Flock; 7 Complexity and Criticality; 8 Fiery Clouds in the Jungle; 9 The Audible Silence; 10 Coupled Oscillators; 11 Laser Beams; 12 Ways to Go; 13 How to Fly; 14 Avian Aerodynamics; 15 The Ant State; 16 Kin Selection: My Sister's Keeper; 17 Of Bees and Flowers; 18 Communication and Language; 19 Epilogue; References and Literature; Person Index