理论工作表明,在社会群体中拥有许多知情人士可以促进有效的资源定位。然而,如果成员未能就其行动方向达成共识,也可能导致集团分裂。在这项研究中,我们调查知情人士的数量,以蝙蝠发出来自不同栖息地的叫声为例,影响Spix的盘翼蝙蝠(三色Thyroptera)的群体凝聚力。此外,我们探讨了信号可靠性的作用,通过信号速率量化,在关于在哪里栖息的集体共识中。这些蝙蝠使用联系电话来宣布栖息地的位置并招募特定物种。他们组成的群体表现出高度的凝聚力,由声乐和非声乐蝙蝠组成,随着时间的推移,声音行为是一致的。我们的发现表明,广播呼叫的栖息地数量的增加与群体在多个栖息地中分裂的可能性密切相关。此外,我们发现大多数小组成员以更高的呼叫率进入栖息地。这种现象可以减轻群体分裂的风险,由于发出更多叫声的蝙蝠可能有助于在栖息地点达成更大的群体共识,从而降低个体分离的可能性,增强整体群体凝聚力。我们的结果凸显了为团队协调而拥有过多信息生产者的潜在成本,尽管他们在寻找关键资源方面发挥了既定作用。本文是“声音的力量:揭示声音交流如何塑造群体动力学”主题的一部分。
Theoretical work suggests that having many informed individuals within social groups can promote efficient resource location. However, it may also give rise to group fragmentation if members fail to reach consensus on their direction of movement. In this study, we investigate whether the number of informed individuals, exemplified by bats emitting calls from different roosts, influences group cohesion in Spix\'s disk-winged bats (Thyroptera tricolor). Additionally, we explore the role of signal reliability, quantified through signalling rates, in group consensus on where to roost. These bats use contact calls to announce the location of a roost site and recruit conspecifics. The groups they form exhibit high levels of cohesion and consist of both vocal and non-vocal bats, with vocal behaviour being consistent over time. Our findings revealed that an increase in the number of roosts broadcasting calls is strongly associated with the likelihood of groups fragmenting among multiple roosts. Additionally, we found that a majority of group members enter the roost with higher calling rates. This phenomenon can mitigate the risk of group fragmentation, as bats emitting more calls may contribute to greater group consensus on roosting locations, thereby reducing the likelihood of individuals separating and enhancing overall group cohesion. Our results highlight the potential costs of having too many information producers for group coordination, despite their established role in finding critical resources. This article is part of the theme issue \'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics\'.