View source for Grouping behavior and the evolution of animal migration

[[Andrew Hein]] <br/>
[[Kyla Dahlin]] <br/>
[[Oana Carja]] <br/>
[[Ana Hocevar]] <br/>
[[Vanessa Weinberger]] <br/>
[[Leif Karlstrom]] <br/>

This project will start with some of the grouping behavior models that Ian Couzin showed us (see an example [[http://webscript.princeton.edu/~icouzin/website/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/couzin05.pdf]]). In addition to individuals evolving the ability to be 'informed' about the migratory route, I'd like to add another evolutionary trait: the ability to store fuel (e.g. fat). Increasing the amount of fuel stored is like increasing the amount of gas you put in your car. If you have some imperfect information about where you want to go, you are more likely to eventually get there without running out of gas if you start with more gas. In the case of migratory animals, increased fuel storage allows animals to search the landscape for a longer period of time. However, fuel storage comes at a great cost--individuals that store a lot of fuel experience drastically increased drag (fish, birds) and they must spend a lot of time gathering fuel before they migrate.

The goal of this project would be to let individuals evolve BOTH the ability to store information about the migratory route at a cost as in Ian's models, and the ability to store more fuel at a cost. I'd like to see what types of trait combinations evolve over a number of generations.<br/>

'''Questions:'''

(1) How does variation in fuel storage affect population viability? <br/>
(2) Is there a trade-off between time/distance taken to reach target and group knowledge? <br/>