We apply the "equation-free" coarse-grained computational framework to
understand the population-level behavior for a model for schooling fish.
In particular, we focus on a case for which the model can give co-existing
stable stationary and mobile collective behaviors. Stochastic effects
cause the school to switch between these behaviors, leading to stick-slip
dynamics which can be characterized using an effective potential in terms
of a population-level coarse variable. The effective potentials found
using equation-free techniques compare very favorably with those
obtained (with much more computational effort) from long-time
simulations.
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