Respiratory metabolism data on 15 species of fish representing six families indicate that individuals in a school experienced a reduction in metabolic rate when compared to the same individuals tested in isolation. The reduction in O2 consumption appears to be the result of an interaction of a “calming effect” and a possible hydrodynamic advantage. Schooling and nonschooling species both exhibit this decreased metabolic rate in the grouped individuals. Between isolated and grouped individuals under laboratory conditions, there is no statistical difference in the regression slopes of respiratory metabolism on size.
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Faust R. Parker (1973) studied this question.