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The impact of architecture on collective behaviour

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 1, Article number: 0111 (2017) Cite this article

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Despite the obvious influence of space on interactions, constraints imposed by the built environment are seldom considered when examining collective behaviours of animals and humans. We propose an interdisciplinary path towards uncovering the impact of architecture on collective outcomes.

Built structures, such as animal nests, serve two overarching purposes: shelter and providing a space where organisms interact. Shelter has dominated much of the discussion in the literature1. But, as the study of collective behaviour expands, it is time to elucidate the role of the built environment in shaping collective outcomes.

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Figure 1: An example of the skeletonization of a termite nest (Trinervitermes geminatus).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Noa Pinter-Wollman is in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.,

    Noa Pinter-Wollman

  2. Stephen M. Fiore is in the Philosophy Department and the Institute for Simulation & Training, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, USA.,

    Stephen M. Fiore

  3. Guy Theraulaz is at the Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, UMR-CNRS 5169, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.,

    Guy Theraulaz

Authors
  1. Noa Pinter-Wollman
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  2. Stephen M. Fiore
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  3. Guy Theraulaz
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Noa Pinter-Wollman, Stephen M. Fiore or Guy Theraulaz.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Pinter-Wollman, N., Fiore, S. & Theraulaz, G. The impact of architecture on collective behaviour. Nat Ecol Evol 1, 0111 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0111

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