Zebrafish (Danio rerio) responds to images animated by mathematical models of animal grouping

Mathematical models of fish schooling offer powerful tools to understand and interpret fundamental aspects of social life, such as foraging, predator avoidance, and migration. Here, we study zebrafish (Danio rerio) response to computer-animated fish shoals whose motion is generated by a mathematical model of schooling. We use a dichotomous test wherein fish freely position themselves near static images of zebrafish shoals or images animated by the model whose parameters are systematically varied.

► Images of fish shoals are animated by a mathematical model of collective behavior. ► Speed and uncertainty in the model are varied to study zebrafish response. ► Fish swim between two monitors displaying a static and an animated fish shoal. ► Fish respond to variations in model parameters.