Sensory Ecology of Collective Behaviour

The workshop “Sensory Ecology of Collective Behaviour” sought to combine the considerable expertise relating to collective behaviour that exists in Konstanz with that in sensory ecology of several short-term visitors to the university’s Zukunftskolleg, including Amanda Melin, Nate Dominy, and James Higham. With the support of the CASCB, Hannah Williams and Ari Strandburg-Peshkin invited a number of experts in both fields from Germany and Switzerland. During the workshop, the researchers discussed how considering the sensory system of animals facilitates the study of collective behaviour, and conversely how a collective perspective can inform the study of sensory ecology.

The two-day workshop culminated in the group writing a joint proposal and outline for a perspective article on the sensory ecology of collective behaviour. Work on the article continued after the workshop, and the group hopes to submit the paper as well as organize a follow-up workshop in the coming year.