Science Daily: Schools of fish take a single shape
Photo credit: Science Daily
When fish or tiny, shrimp-like krill get together, it appears they follow the same set of "rules." According to a new study published online on Sept. 16 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, shoals of fish and swarms of krill hang out in groups that take on the same overall shape; it's not a simple sphere, a cylinder,or ovoid, but something more akin to an irregular crystal, the researchers say.
"The fact that several species of fish and krill that live in very different locations — from the tropics to polar oceans — form shoals that are the same shape suggests that the same forces are at play in diverse ecosystems; there is a common 'rule' for shoal shape," said Andrew Brierley of the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
"The fact that several species of fish and krill that live in very different locations — from the tropics to polar oceans — form shoals that are the same shape suggests that the same forces are at play in diverse ecosystems; there is a common 'rule' for shoal shape," said Andrew Brierley of the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 10/13/2010 10:00 AM 
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Tags: shoal shapes krill fish ecosystems
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: shoal shapes krill fish ecosystems
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