Sometimes it is better to follow the advice of others than to follow your own views – scientists write in the January issue of the magazine “Ethology”. Such conclusions were drawn on the basis of observation… roach fish. Joergen Johnsson and Fredrik Sundstroem from Goeteborg University in Sweden proved, that not only humans but also fish tend to be guided by the opinion of the general public.
They placed the hurdles in a special labyrinth, at the end of which there was a food reservoir. They gave the fish time to find the right way and learn it. Additionally, they let trout into some aquariums – predatory fish, which was the stress factor, making it difficult for hurdles to focus on their studies. Then all the fish were grouped into larger groups and again told to find their way to food, also in the presence or absence of a predator.
Turned out, that the fish that initially “they trained” under more stressful conditions, in the presence of a predator, they were better at finding food, if added to the herd, previously kept in aquariums without trout.
Johnsson and Sundstroem are careful, that the learning abilities of animals do not always keep pace with the rapid changes taking place in the environment. Therefore, following “opinion” group increases the chances of success and is more beneficial in the long run than self-reliance.
To trust or not to trust
