Abstract
Aggregation of many species of invertebrate is an example of a consensus decision, the success of which is central to survival. Personality is a stable form of behavioural diversity which has been observed in the aggregation process, but neither the reasons for its stability nor its effects on consensus decisions are well understood. By using an agent-based model of invertebrate aggregation, it is found that diverse personalities have only limited benefits to the experimental consensus decision-making process, but may have a more valuable role in natural settings. Importantly, although certain personalities may ostensibly have potential drawbacks at the individual level, such as choosing to rest in unfavourable places, all individuals are likely to benefit from maintaining a constant personality, which promotes group stability. These findings help to improve understanding of consensus decision-making and the prevalence of stable personality.
Highlights
A consensus decision is a form of collective decision with the requirement of a unique outcome to which the group adheres [1,2]
In light of the potential costs of certain personalities to individuals, and since previous studies have identified the importance of diversity to many forms of collective decision-making, the present study considers the effect of changeable behaviours, both on the group and individuals
A similar explanation holds for the two bands of low individual resting time (IRT) values: for the one at around IRT = 0, a small fg value tends to hold agents in stable aggregates before they arrive at shelter, and for the other at around IRT = 0.1, a large fg value means agents do not form stable aggregates and only pass through shelter as part of their movement
Summary
A consensus decision is a form of collective decision with the requirement of a unique outcome to which the group adheres [1,2]. Consensus decisions have many potential benefits including maintenance of group cohesion and greater speed and accuracy of outcome compared with lone decisions [3]. Success or failure of consensus decision-making can have major consequences [4]; its study is of fundamental importance. Aggregation of woodlice (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) is an example of consensus decision-making as it depends on shared individual preferences and social attraction [5,6]: given a choice of two identical shelters, woodlice are observed to aggregate under just one chosen at random [7]. Aggregation and sheltering are important survival behaviours for woodlice due to their vulnerability to desiccation [9].
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