Abstract
Effect of schooling on the rate of prey consumption by planktivorous fish is deduced by extending the Holling disk equation (i.e. the rate of prey consumption by solitary feeding fishes can be expressed by the Holling disk equation) to account for lateral visual-field overlap and reduction of prey density due to removal of prey by forward-occurring members of the school. Effect of schooling is expressed as the rate of prey consumption per member of the school relative to that by a solitary individual. This study suggests that schooling of predators occurs at the expense of prey consumption. Cost of schooling is reduced if prey densities are high, if distance between members is high, or if school size is small. There may be some advantage to schooling when prey have a clumped distribution.

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