Another possible benefit of aggregation is to protect against predation by group anti-predator behavior. Many species exhibit higher rates of predator vigilance behavior per individual at lower density. This increased vigilance might result in less time and energy spent on foraging, thus reducing the fitness of an individual living in smaller groups. One striking example of such shared vigilance is exhibited by meerkats. Meanwhile, other species move in synchrony to confuse and avoid predators such as schools of sardines and flocks of starlings. The confusion effect that this herding behavior would have on predators will be more effective when more individuals are present.Cooperative feeding
Camilla is interested in how smaller fish avoid larger predators. She has been observing two groups of fish: Group A travels together in the same direction in a coordination fashion. Group B also travels together, but each fish moves somewhat independently.
Is Group B more or less likely than Group A to confuse and avoid predators?