title: Individual gregariousness predicts behavioural synchronization in a foraging herbivore, the sheep (Ovis aries).
abstract: Diversity of animal personalities has been proposed to arise from differences in social attraction, and to enhance behavioural flexibility of a population. The present study evaluated gregariousness as a personality trait in 14 ewes kept on pasture. Gregariousness was defined based on the frequency of having a close neighbour (<3m). Highly gregarious (HG) and less gregarious (LG) animals were separated into two groups (n=7) which were reintegrated after 18 days. During direct field observations, behaviour was recorded individually every 15 min. Each session lasted 2.5h (08.30-11.00 h or 14.30-17.00 h, respectively). Behavioural synchronization was highest when the group consisted only of HG individuals (κHG=0.69, κLG=0.31; t=5.29; p<0.001), indicating that gregariousness predicted behavioural synchronization in sheep. Though sheep are generally recognized as a highly gregarious species, HG and LG individuals could be differentiated clearly and consistently. Research on animal personality might help explain social influences on behavioural synchronization.
authors: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address: vhausch@gwdg.de.
authors: Verena
authors: V
authors: Hauschildt
authors: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Gerken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D060434:Herbivory; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Group behavior; Personality; Sheep; Synchronization