Recent studies have revealed new vital information about the behaviour of locust swarms. The 2019-2022 locust outbreak was one of the most severe in decades. It devastated crops across several countries, including India, Kenya, and Somalia. Researchers have now shifted their understanding of locust behaviour from treating them as simple particles to recognising their complex decision-making processes.
Locust Biology and Behaviour
Locusts are a type of grasshopper that can undergo drastic changes in size and colour. Under certain conditions, they form large swarms. This process is known as gregarisation. Swarms can travel vast distances and have historically caused agricultural damage. The 2019-2022 outbreak led to the destruction of over 200,000 hectares of crops.
Traditional Models of Swarm Behaviour
Previous models viewed locust swarms as gases in motion. These models suggested that locusts aligned with their neighbours like self-propelled particles. However, this perspective did not accurately reflect the observed behaviour of locusts in the wild.
New Research Findings
Recent research led by Iain Couzin revealed that locusts do not behave like gases. Instead, their movement is influenced by cognitive processes. Locusts rely heavily on visual cues to navigate their swarms. Experiments showed that when deprived of vision, locusts struggled to maintain direction.
Use of Holographic Technology
To further investigate locust behaviour, researchers used holographic virtual reality. This innovative approach allowed scientists to observe locusts in controlled environments. They discovered that the coherence of motion, rather than crowding, influenced how locusts aligned with each other.
Emergence of Collective Behaviour
The study indicated that swarming is an emergent phenomenon. Individual locusts make decisions based on visual inputs, leading to coordinated group movement without a leader. This principle of emergent behaviour is also seen in other species, such as birds and fish.
Implications for Agriculture and Climate Change
About locust behaviour is crucial for predicting swarms and managing agricultural risks. Climate change has exacerbated locust outbreaks by altering breeding conditions. Increased rainfall and unusual weather patterns have created ideal environments for locusts to thrive.
Future Research Directions
The research team emphasises the need for further studies. They aim to explore how swarms determine flight direction and the factors influencing their movement. Collaboration with climate scientists and vegetation experts is essential for developing accurate predictive models.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food security in developing countries.
- Critically examine the role of collective behaviour in animal groups and its implications for understanding ecosystems.
- Explain the significance of using technology in studying animal behaviour. What are the potential benefits and challenges?
- With suitable examples, discuss how emergent phenomena can be observed in different biological and social systems.
Answer Hints:
1. Discuss the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food security in developing countries.
- Climate change leads to unpredictable weather patterns, affecting crop yields.
- Increased rainfall and extreme weather create ideal conditions for pests like locusts.
- Developing countries often lack resources for effective agricultural adaptation and pest management.
- Food security is compromised as crop failures lead to higher prices and reduced availability.
- Long-term impacts include increased poverty and malnutrition in vulnerable populations.
2. Critically examine the role of collective behaviour in animal groups and its implications for understanding ecosystems.
- Collective behaviour allows species to respond effectively to environmental changes and threats.
- It enhances survival through coordinated actions, such as hunting or avoiding predators.
- About these behaviours aids in ecosystem management and conservation efforts.
- Emergent patterns from individual actions can inform models of ecological dynamics.
- Collective behaviour can influence species interactions, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
3. Explain the significance of using technology in studying animal behaviour. What are the potential benefits and challenges?
- Technology allows for precise tracking and observation of animal movements and interactions.
- Innovative tools like virtual reality can simulate environments to study behaviours in controlled settings.
- Data collection can lead to more accurate models of behaviour and predictions for management.
- Challenges include high costs, the need for technical expertise, and potential impacts on animal welfare.
- Balancing technology use with ethical considerations is crucial for responsible research.
4. With suitable examples, discuss how emergent phenomena can be observed in different biological and social systems.
- In locust swarms, individual decisions lead to coordinated group movement without central control.
- Flocks of birds exhibit emergent behaviour through collective navigation and predator evasion.
- Traffic flow demonstrates emergent properties where individual driver decisions create patterns of congestion.
- Ant colonies show emergent behaviour in foraging and nest building, based on simple interactions.
- Social networks can reveal emergent trends in public opinion or information dissemination, influenced by individual interactions.
