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TRAVEL
MAGAZINE
17
People often refer to a group of fi sh as a school, although this term is
not precisely correct. A school is a group of fi sh that swim together in a
synchronized fashion, moving in the same direction, at the same speed,
and turning simultaneously. To be called a school, a group of fi sh must
demonstrate all of these rather complex behavioral patterns.
The word shoal, on the other hand, is the term for any simple social
grouping of fi sh. In short, any group of fi sh is a shoal, but not all shoals
demonstrate the properties of a school.
Shoaling off ers numerous benefi ts to individual fi sh, including increased
success in fi nding food, access to potential mates, and increased protec-
tion from predators. With respect to food acquisition, it has been shown
that fi sh in shoals fi nd food faster and spend more time actually feeding.
This benefi t probably stems from the simple fact that a large group of
fi sh has a greater chance of fi nding food than does one single individ-
ual. With respect to mate acquisition, shoaling behavior often results in
groups of fi sh of the same species, thus making it easier for males and
females to fi nd each other. For both food acquisition and mate acquisi-
tion, larger numbers of fi sh should lead to increased benefi ts, therefore it
is not surprising that fi sh typically choose large shoals over small shoals.
With respect to predator predation, it has been shown that fi sh in shoals
are at less risk of predation than fi sh that are swimming alone. This
benefi t has been extensively studied and may be related to a number of
diff erent features of the shoal.
SOME OF THE
COOLEST PLACES
ON THE PLANET
HAPPEN TO BE
COVERED IN
WATER!