Some Causes of the Variable Shape of Flocks of Birds
Figure 7
Deviation from average heading and velocity.
Deviation from the average of heading and velocity among individuals in the flock. A) Scale free correlation between correlation length of deviation of velocity from that of the centre of gravity versus length of the flock for default values (flock length is measured by the largest distance (in m) between two individuals in the flock); B) Corresponding snapshots of flocks true to scale. From left to right: N = 200 and Lā20 m, N = 2000 and Lā50 m. C) Polarisation (global and local) versus number of individuals in the flock for default parameters and high number of interaction partners (i.e. 50), N = flock size, lines (continuous and striped) indicate local polarization, points indicate global polarization (fat dots: default parameters, stars: 50 interaction partners).