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hal-00439846, version 1

Decision-making in Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) is driven by the ecological contexts of collective movements

Marie Bourjade 1, Bernard Thierry 2, Myriam Maumy 3, Odile Petit 2

Ethology 115 (2009) 321-330

Résumé : We addressed decision-making processes in the collective movements of two groups of Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) living in a semi free-ranging population. We investigated whether different patterns of group movement are related to certain ecological contexts (habitat use and group activity) and analysed the possible decision-making processes involved. We found two distinct patterns; 'single-bout' and 'multiplebout' movements occurred in both study groups. The movements were defined by the occurrence of collective stops between bouts and differed by their duration, distance covered and ecological context. For both movements, we found that a preliminary period involving several horses occurred before departure. In single-bout movements, all group members rapidly joined the first moving horse, independently of the preliminary period. In multiple-bout movements, however, the joining process was longer; in particular when the number of decision-makers and their pre-departure behaviour before departure increased. Multiplebout movements were more often used by horses to switch habitats and activities. This observation demonstrates that the horses need more time to resolve motivational conflicts before these departures. We conclude that decision-making in Przewalski horses is based on a shared consensus process driven by ecological determinants.

  • 1 :  Ethologie, évolution, écologie (EEE)
  • CNRS : UMR6552 – Université de Rennes 1
  • 2 :  Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE-IPHC)
  • CNRS : UMR7178 – Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg I
  • 3 :  Institut de Recherche Mathématique Avancée (IRMA)
  • CNRS : UMR7501 – Université de Strasbourg
  • Domaine : Sciences de l'environnement/Environnement et Société
    Sciences du Vivant/Biodiversité/Evolution
 
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  • Soumis le : Mardi 8 Décembre 2009, 16:24:52
  • Dernière modification le : Mardi 19 Février 2013, 10:34:00