Langevin dynamics encapsulate the microscopic and emergent macroscopic properties of midge swarms

19Citations
Citations of this article
15Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

In contrast to bird flocks, fish schools and animal herds, midge swarms maintain cohesion but do not possess global order. High-speed imaging techniques are now revealing that these swarms have surprising properties. Here, I show that simple models found on the Langevin equation are consistent with this wealth of recent observations. The models predict correctly that large accelerations, exceeding 10 g, will be common and they predict correctly the coexistence of core condensed phases surrounded by dilute vapour phases. The models also provide new insights into the influence of environmental conditions on swarm dynamics. They predict that correlations between midges increase the strength of the effective force binding the swarm together. This may explain why such correlations are absent in laboratory swarms but present in natural swarms which contend with the wind and other disturbances. Finally, the models predict that swarms have fluid-like macroscopic mechanical properties and will slosh rather than slide back and forth after being abruptly displaced. This prediction offers a promising avenue for future experimentation that goes beyond current quasi-static testing which has revealed solid-like responses.

References Powered by Scopus

Criteria for the selection of stochastic models of particle trajectories in turbulent flows

1113Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Dynamical aspects of animal grouping: Swarms, schools, flocks, and herds

723Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Fluid particle accelerations in fully developed turbulence

518Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Mechanical spectroscopy of insect swarms

36Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Environmental perturbations induce correlations in midge swarms

24Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Goals and Limitations of Modeling Collective Behavior in Biological Systems

24Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Reynolds, A. M. (2018). Langevin dynamics encapsulate the microscopic and emergent macroscopic properties of midge swarms. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 15(138). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2017.0806

Readers over time

‘18‘19‘20‘21‘22‘23‘24‘2500.751.52.253

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

Researcher 6

50%

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 5

42%

Professor / Associate Prof. 1

8%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Physics and Astronomy 2

25%

Engineering 2

25%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 2

25%

Environmental Science 2

25%

Article Metrics

Tooltip
Mentions
News Mentions: 1

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free
0