Analysis of functional response in presence of schooling phenomena: An IBM approach

The aim of this paper is to analyse the emergence of functional response of a predator–prey system startingfrom diverse simulations of an Individual-Based Model of schooling fish. Individual characteristicscan, indeed, play an important role in establishing group dynamics. The central question we address iswhether or not aggregation influences predator–prey relationships.To answer this question, we analyse the consequences of schooling when estimating functional responsein four configurations: (1) no schooling of either prey nor predators; (2) schooling of prey only; (3)schooling of predators only; and (4) schooling of both prey and predators. Aggregation is modelled usingthe rules of attraction, alignment and repulsion.We find important differences between the various configurations, highlighting that functional responseis largely affected by collective behaviour. In particular, we show: (1) an increased predation efficiencywhen prey school and (2) different functional response shapes: Holling type II emerges if prey do notschool, while Holling type III emerges when prey aggregate