Mathematical patterns developed by Alan Turing help researchers
understand bird behavior

Date:
August 11, 2020
Source:
University of Sheffield
Summary:
Scientists have used mathematical modelling to understand why
flocks of long-tailed tits segregate themselves into different
parts of the landscape.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists from the University of Sheffield have used mathematical
modelling to understand why flocks of long-tailed tits segregate
themselves into different parts of the landscape.


==========================================================================
The team tracked the birds around Sheffield's Rivelin Valley which
eventually produced a pattern across the landscape, using maths helped
the team to reveal the behaviours causing these patterns.

The findings, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, show that
flocks of long-tailed tits are less likely to avoid places where they
have interacted with relatives and more likely to avoid larger flocks,
whilst preferring the centre of woodland.

It was previously unknown why flocks of long-tailed tits live in separate
parts of the same area, despite there being plenty of food to sustain
multiple flocks and the birds not showing territorial behaviour.

The equations used to understand the birds are similar to those developed
by Alan Turing to describe how animals get their spotted and striped
patterns.

Turing's famous mathematics indicates if patterns will appear as an
animal grows in the womb, here it's used to find out which behaviours
lead to the patterns across the landscape.

Territorial animals often live in segregated areas that they aggressively defend and stay close to their den. Before this study, these mathematical
ideas had been used to understand the patterns made by territorial
animals such as coyotes, meerkats and even human gangs. However, this
study was the first to use the ideas on non-territorial animals with no
den pinning them in place.

Natasha Ellison, PhD student at the University of Sheffield who led
the study, said: "Mathematical models help us understand nature in an extraordinary amount of ways and our study is a fantastic example of
this." "Long-tailed tits are too small to be fitted with GPS trackers
like larger animals, so researchers follow these tiny birds on foot,
listening for bird calls and identifying birds with binoculars. The
field work is extremely time consuming and without the help of these mathematical models these behaviours wouldn't have been discovered."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Sheffield. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Natasha Ellison, Ben J. Hatchwell, Sarah J. Biddiscombe, Clare
J. Napper,
Jonathan R. Potts. Mechanistic home range analysis reveals drivers
of space use patterns for a non‐territorial passerine. Journal
of Animal Ecology, 2020; DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13292 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200811120147.htm

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