The Impact of Flow and Flow-Oriented Swimming on the Capacity to Aggregate

Explore the fascinating world of self-organizing behavior in nature through this 55-minute lecture by Kevin Painter from Politecnico di Torino. Delve into the challenges faced by cells and animals when forming large groups in fluid environments with strong and turbulent flows. Examine the phenomenon of rheotaxis, where organisms swim upstream to counteract flows, and investigate whether this strategy is always beneficial. Analyze scenarios that enhance group formation and maintenance, both with and without rheotaxis. Discover how optimized behavior emerges when rheotaxis is modulated according to local population density rather than being constantly active. Gain insights into the complex interplay between flow, swimming behavior, and aggregation capacity in biological systems.