It's not just we humans who value consensus: A new study has shown that stickleback fish make better decisions when acting as a group than they do as individuals. Researchers set up a clever experiment in which the fish had to choose which leader to follow in the quest for food, giving them an option between a "good" choice and a "bad" choice.
Based on earlier experiments, the study’s researchers had a pretty good idea about ... stickleback preferences. Fat, evenly colored fish are regarded as healthy and strong, while scrawny fish mottled with black spots may be considered diseased. Coauthor Ashley Ward ... says of these sticklebacks, “Fish like large leaders, well-fed leaders and unparasitized leaders” [Science News]
. Researchers made a stickleback replica that looked healthy and fat as well as one that appeared bony and mottled, and put both into the fish tank.
When shown the fish ...
