Trilobite "pelotons": Possible hydrodynamic drag effects between leading and following trilobites in trilobite queues

TL;DR

This study models hydrodynamic drag effects in trilobite queues, suggesting that following positions could significantly reduce energy expenditure during migration, based on fossil evidence and analogies with crustaceans.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model of hydrodynamic drafting in trilobite migration, linking fossil size distributions to energy-saving mechanisms.

Findings

Fossil size ranges support hydrodynamic drafting hypothesis

Estimated energy savings of approximately 61.5% for following trilobites

Modeling aligns with observed trilobite queue structures

Abstract

Energy saving mechanisms in nature allow following organisms to expend less energy than leaders. Queues, or ordered rows of individuals, may form when organisms exploit the available energy saving mechanism while travelling at near-maximal sustainable metabolic capacities; compact clusters form when group members travel well below maximal sustainable metabolic capacities. The group size range, given here as the ratio of the difference between the size of the largest and smallest group members, and the size of the largest member (as a per cent), has been hypothesized to correspond proportionately to the energy saving quantity because weaker, smaller, individuals sustain speeds of stronger, larger, individuals by exploiting the energy saving mechanism (as a per cent). During migration, small individuals outside this range may perish, or form sub-groups, or simply not participate in migratory behavior. We approximate drag forces for leading and following individuals in queues of the late Devonian (approx. 370 Ma) trilobite Trimerocephalus chopini. Applying data from literature of R. herculea, a living crustacean, we approximate the hypothetical walking speed and maximal speeds for T. chopini. Findings reasonably support the hypothesis: among the population of fossilized queues of T. chopini reported by Kin and Blazejowski (2013), trilobite size range was 75% while the size range within queues, was 63%; this corresponds reasonably with drag reductions in following positions that permit approx. 61.5% energy saving for trilobites following others in optimal low-drag positions. We model collective trilobite behavior associated with hydrodynamic drafting.