Swimming in a school shelters fish from turbulence

by Tyson L. Hedrick

Much has been written about the energetic effects of animals moving in schools or flocks, but experimental results are few and often ambiguous. A new study in PLOS Biology shows that schooling greatly reduces the cost of transport for fish in turbulent flow. Much has been written about the energetic effects of animals moving in schools or flocks, but experimental results are few and often ambiguous. This Primer explores a new study in PLOS Biology which shows that schooling greatly reduces the cost of transport for fish in turbulent flow.