Berlin 2018 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 81: Active Matter (joint session BP/CPP/DY)
CPP 81.7: Talk
Friday, March 16, 2018, 11:00–11:15, H 1058
Size increases produce coordination trade-offs in a simple multicellular animal near criticality — Mircea R. Davidescu1, •Pawel Romanczuk2,3, Thomas Gregor4, Corina E. Tarnita1, and Iain D. Couzin5,6 — 1Dept. of Ecology and Evol. Biology, Princeton University ,USA — 2Institute for Theoretical Biology, Dept. of Biology, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany — 3Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin, Germany — 4Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics, Princeton University, USA — 5Dept. of Collective Behavior, MPIORN, Konstanz, Germany — 6Dept. of Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany
Based on theoretical arguments from statistical physics, it has been suggested that collective systems in biology should operate close to criticality in order to maximize their susceptibility to external signals [Mora & Bialek, J Stat Phys, 144, 2 (2011)]. Recently, this hypothesis received increased attention in the context of collective behavior in biology. However, it is still rather controversial and up to know most support for it comes from idealized mathematical models and few experimental systems. Here, we will discuss some recent experimental observations of Placozoa (Trichoplax Adhaerens), a simple multicellular animal effectively corresponding to a quasi two-dimensional cellular sheet. By combining experimental data with simple mathematical model of Placozoa motion as a collective system, we find that the observed dynamics are indeed consistent with the criticality hypothesis, but as a consequence these simple animals without a central nervous system have to face a fundamental size-coordination trade-off.