The gathering of cells or animals into large groups provides one of nature’s most spectac- ular examples of self-organising behaviour. To achieve this within a fluid environment, though, could involve confronting strong and turbulent flows. Cells and animals can neutralise flows by swimming upstream, a phenomenon termed rheotaxis. But is it always advantageous to use rheotaxis? We look at the effects of flow both in the presence and absence of rheotaxis, teasing out scenarios under which group formation and maintenance is enhanced. Optimised behaviour results not when rheotaxis is always on, but modulated according to local population density.
By Richard Bailleul
By Florence Hubert
By Pierre-Emmanuel Jabin
By Markus Schmidtchen
By Camille Pouchol
By Monika Joanna Piotrowska
By Annabelle Collin
By Sébastien Benzekry
By Jose Munoz
By Pasquale Ciarletta
By Olivier Saut
By Anna Marciniak-Czochra
By Aleksandra Ardaseva
By Kevin Painter
By Nadia Loy
By Min Tang
By Christian Schmeiser
By Thierry Goudon
By Ariane Trescases
By Monica Colpi
By Albert Schwarz
By Deneuville Jean-Christophe
By Albert Schwarz
By Juan Camilo Arosemena Serrato
By Pieter Spaas
By Francesca Arici
