Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
recruiters and joiners should behave in groups. Radford and Ridley (2008) show how
calling regulates spacing and food competition in babbler flocks.
Couzin and Krause (2003) review how group movements arise from local individual
decision making. Conradt and Roper (2005, 2007) discuss how groups reach a
consensus and King
et al
. (2009) review how leadership emerges in groups. King
et al
.
(2008) is a field study of baboons, revealing how subordinates follow dominants even
when they suffer short-term foraging costs. Franks
et al
. (2002) review opinion polling
and house hunting in social insects.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Devise an experiment which would provide a convincing test of the 'confusion effect'.
2.
How would you test the hypothesis that groups are of stable rather than optimal size?
3.
In fish size hierarchies, when would you expect subordinates to grow to challenge
dominants rather than wait for a breeding vacancy?
4.
How would you test whether individuals really have the three behavioural zones in
Fig. 6.22a?
5.
Discuss how individual specializations in hunting roles, as in lions, might develop in a
group.
