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Effective leadership and decision-making in animal groups on the move

Author

Listed:
  • Iain D. Couzin

    (Princeton University
    University of Oxford)

  • Jens Krause

    (University of Leeds)

  • Nigel R. Franks

    (University of Bristol)

  • Simon A. Levin

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

Leadership by numbers Moving groups of animals, including fish, ungulates, birds and honeybee swarms seem able to take complex decisions in the absence of signalling mechanisms, and when group members cannot establish who has or has not got information. A numerical simulation shows how such groups can make accurate consensus decisions, and that the larger the group, the smaller the proportion of informed individuals needed to guide the group. A very small proportion of informed individuals is sufficient for near maximal accuracy. This has implications for our understanding of the evolution of information transfer in groups, and also suggests a new design protocol for the guidance of grouping robots. Cover photo, by Phillip Colla Natural History Photography ( http://www.OceanLight.com ), shows schooling jack mackerel.

Suggested Citation

  • Iain D. Couzin & Jens Krause & Nigel R. Franks & Simon A. Levin, 2005. "Effective leadership and decision-making in animal groups on the move," Nature, Nature, vol. 433(7025), pages 513-516, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:433:y:2005:i:7025:d:10.1038_nature03236
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03236
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