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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Guppy groupies. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
(Finding Nemo clip)
In “Finding Nemo, a school of fish escape a fishermans’ net by swimming in formation under the leadership of a single individual. Now, researchers report in Science Advances that groups of guppies will rely on one leader to make most decisions about which way to swim next, especially in predator-infested rivers. University of Bristol biologist Christos Ioannou explains.
CHRISTOS IOANNOU (University of Bristol):
There tend to be more leader or follower types in the high-predation environments. If you find yourself in a group where everyone else is quite shy, you might respond by then taking on that kind of leadership role. So you respond to the social environment that surrounds you.
HIRSHON:
The study suggests that social decisions can be strongly influenced by ecological factors. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.
Story by Susanne Bard