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PloS one2015; 10(5); e0126344; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126344

Is leadership a reliable concept in animals? An empirical study in the horse.

Abstract: Leadership is commonly invoked when accounting for the coordination of group movements in animals, yet it remains loosely defined. In parallel, there is increased evidence of the sharing of group decisions by animals on the move. How leadership integrates within this recent framework on collective decision-making is unclear. Here, we question the occurrence of leadership in horses, a species in which this concept is of prevalent use. The relevance of the three main definitions of leadership--departing first, walking in front travel position, and eliciting the joining of mates--was tested on the collective movements of two semi-free ranging groups of Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). We did not find any leader capable of driving most group movements or recruiting mates more quickly than others. Several group members often displayed pre-departure behaviours at the same time, and the simultaneous departure of several individuals was common. We conclude that the decision-making process was shared by several group members a group movement (i.e., partially shared consensus) and that the leadership concept did not help to depict individual departure and leading behaviour across movements in both study groups. Rather, the different proxies of leadership produced conflicting information about individual contributions to group coordination. This study discusses the implications of these findings for the field of coordination and decision-making research.
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Publication Date: 2015-05-26 PubMed ID: 26010442PubMed Central: PMC4444174DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126344Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the concept of leadership in animal groups, specifically horses, and questions its prevalence and relevance. The study doesn’t find any clear evidence of typical leadership behaviours like departing before others, staying ahead or influencing others to join in group movements.

Examination of Leadership Concepts

  • The research focuses on the three common definitions of leadership in animal groups. These include initiating a departure before others, leading the group on the move by walking in front, and inspiring the participation of other group members in the movement.
  • These leadership concepts are tested on two groups of Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) that were semi-free ranging.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found no sign of any one leader who could instigate most of the group movements, or be able to recruit other horses to join in more rapidly than others.
  • Often, several members of the group would display departure behaviour at the same time, leading to an overlap of leadership roles. Consequently, the start of a group movement was frequently a collective decision made by several horses.
  • The concept of leadership failed to effectively demonstrate individual departure and leading behavior across movements in the studied horse groups.

Implications of the Findings

  • These findings imply that leadership is not a straightforward concept in animal groups and is multi-faceted.
  • The variations in the markers of leadership, as shown in the study, can provide conflicting reports about individual contributions to group coordination.
  • These findings have broader implications for the field of coordination and decision-making research, where the understanding of leadership roles can impact the interpretation of collective decision-making processes.
  • It highlights a need to reassess the concept of leadership in animals, and consider its relevance and applicability in different species and contexts.

Cite This Article

APA
Bourjade M, Thierry B, Hausberger M, Petit O. (2015). Is leadership a reliable concept in animals? An empirical study in the horse. PLoS One, 10(5), e0126344. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0126344

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: e0126344
PII: e0126344

Researcher Affiliations

Bourjade, Marie
  • Unité de Recherche Interdisciplinaire Octogone, Laboratoire Cognition Communication Développement, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France; Association Takh pour le cheval de Przewalski, Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, Arles, France.
Thierry, Bernard
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France.
Hausberger, Martine
  • Laboratoire d'Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Université de Rennes 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Rennes, France.
Petit, Odile
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Empirical Research
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Leadership
  • Male
  • Movement

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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