Collective action is coordinated activity produced by interactions among group members. In biological systems, simple, spatially distributed entities can cooperate on complex tasks without a centralized controller, script, or global information. section 9.1
Collective action can involve:
- Foraging, dividing labor, constructing nests, sorting offspring, herding, schooling, and flocking. section 9.1
- Communication, cooperation patterns, and adaptation strategies that produce self-organized group behavior. section 9.1
Bacterial foraging
E. coli uses chemotaxis to migrate through gradients of chemical attractants and repellents, illustrating how individual responses can support cooperative foraging and structured colonies. section 9.1
