Super-individual based model for fish migration

6 One of the most remarkable characteristics of collective motion of fish is the emergence of 7 complex migration patterns in which swimming fish are synchronised by remaining together 8 and moving in the same direction. These migration patterns, referred to as fish schools, are 9 often explained using individual based models (IBM’s) that focus on interactions between 10 single individuals. The IBM’s appear to be realistic and robust; however, they are 11 computationally unable to efficiently describe migration of large groups of fish. Here, an 12 approach for developing computationally efficient super-individual based models from 13 simple individual based models for fish migration is proposed. This approach accentuates on 14 ecological mechanisms underlying collective motion of fish, and interaction between them; it 15 explicitly incorporates such important mechanisms in collective motion of fish as fish school 16 splitting and merging. 17 18