Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 23 July 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5683, pp. 487 - 491
DOI: 10.1126/science.1098254
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Review

Public Information: From Nosy Neighbors to Cultural Evolution

Étienne Danchin,1 Luc-Alain Giraldeau,2 Thomas J. Valone,3 Richard H. Wagner4

Psychologists, economists, and advertising moguls have long known that human decision-making is strongly influenced by the behavior of others. A rapidly accumulating body of evidence suggests that the same is true in animals. Individuals can use information arising from cues inadvertently produced by the behavior of other individuals with similar requirements. Many of these cues provide public information about the quality of alternatives. The use of public information is taxonomically widespread and can enhance fitness. Public information can lead to cultural evolution, which we suggest may then affect biological evolution.

1 U.P.M.C. CNRS-UMR7625, Bât A–7e étage–Case 237, 7 quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris Cédex 05, France. E-mail: edanchin{at}snv.jussieu.fr
2 Group de Recherche en Écologie Comportementale et Animale, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case Postale 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada. E-mail: giraldeau.luc-alain{at}uqam.ca
3 Department of Biology, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA. E-mail: valone{at}slu.edu
4 Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Savoyenstrasse 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: r.wagner{at}klivv.oeaw.ac.at

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Role of facial expressions in social interactions.
C. Frith (2009)
Phil Trans R Soc B 364, 3453-3458
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Persuasive companions can be wrong: the use of misleading social information in nutmeg mannikins.
G. Rieucau and L.-A. Giraldeau (2009)
Behav. Ecol. 20, 1217-1222
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The effect of personality on social foraging: shy barnacle geese scrounge more.
R. H. J. M. Kurvers, H. H. T. Prins, S. E. van Wieren, K. van Oers, B. A. Nolet, and R. C. Ydenberg (2009)
Proc R Soc B
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The evolution of information suppression in communicating robots with conflicting interests.
S. Mitri, D. Floreano, and L. Keller (2009)
PNAS 106, 15786-15790
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Experimental evidence for group hunting via eavesdropping in echolocating bats.
D. K.N. Dechmann, S. L. Heucke, L. Giuggioli, K. Safi, C. C. Voigt, and M. Wikelski (2009)
Proc R Soc B 276, 2721-2728
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mate choice copying and mate quality bias: different processes, different species.
A. Vakirtzis and S. C. Roberts (2009)
Behav. Ecol.
   Full Text »    PDF »
The higher the better: sentinel height influences foraging success in a social bird.
A. N. Radford, L. I. Hollen, and M. B.V. Bell (2009)
Proc R Soc B 276, 2437-2442
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The relationship between social behaviour and habitat familiarity in African elephants (Loxodonta africana).
N. Pinter-Wollman, L. A Isbell, and L. A Hart (2009)
Proc R Soc B 276, 1009-1014
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Nine-spined sticklebacks deploy a hill-climbing social learning strategy.
J. R. Kendal, L. Rendell, T. W. Pike, and K. N. Laland (2009)
Behav. Ecol. 20, 238-244
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sleeping gulls monitor the vigilance behaviour of their neighbours.
G. Beauchamp (2009)
Biol Lett 5, 9-11
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The development of foraging microhabitat preferences in meerkats.
A. Thornton and S. J. Hodge (2009)
Behav. Ecol. 20, 103-110
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of group size and personality on social foraging: the distribution of sheep across patches.
P. Michelena, A. M. Sibbald, H. W. Erhard, and J. E. McLeod (2009)
Behav. Ecol. 20, 145-152
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
How do social dominance and social information influence reproduction and the brain?.
J. K. Desjardins and R. D. Fernald (2008)
Integr. Comp. Biol. 48, 596-603
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The type and timing of social information alters offspring production.
R. J Fletcher Jr and C. W Miller (2008)
Biol Lett 4, 482-485
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Social information trumps vegetation structure in breeding-site selection by a migrant songbird.
M. G Betts, A. S Hadley, N. Rodenhouse, and J. J Nocera (2008)
Proc R Soc B 275, 2257-2263
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Context-dependent mate choice in relation to social composition in green swordtails Xiphophorus helleri.
N. J. Royle, J. Lindstrom, and N. B. Metcalfe (2008)
Behav. Ecol. 19, 998-1005
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Timing of initial arrival at the breeding site predicts age at first reproduction in a long-lived migratory bird.
P. H. Becker, T. Dittmann, J.-D. Ludwigs, B. Limmer, S. C. Ludwig, C. Bauch, A. Braasch, and H. Wendeln (2008)
PNAS 105, 12349-12352
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Social cognition.
C. D Frith (2008)
Phil Trans R Soc B 363, 2033-2039
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Quorum decision-making facilitates information transfer in fish shoals.
A. J. W. Ward, D. J. T. Sumpter, I. D. Couzin, P. J. B. Hart, and J. Krause (2008)
PNAS 105, 6948-6953
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Competitor density cues for habitat quality facilitating habitat selection and investment decisions.
J. T. Forsman, M. B. Hjernquist, J. Taipale, and L. Gustafsson (2008)
Behav. Ecol.
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Social diffusion of novel foraging methods in brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).
M. Dindo, B. Thierry, and A. Whiten (2008)
Proc R Soc B 275, 187-193
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Density, social information, and space use in the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara).
J. Cote, S. Boudsocq, and J. Clobert (2008)
Behav. Ecol. 19, 163-168
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Contrasting responses of bumble bees to feeding conspecifics on their familiar and unfamiliar flowers.
L. G Kawaguchi, K. Ohashi, and Y. Toquenaga (2007)
Proc R Soc B 274, 2661-2667
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Epidermal 'alarm substance' cells of fishes maintained by non-alarm functions: possible defence against pathogens, parasites and UVB radiation.
D. P Chivers, B. D Wisenden, C. J Hindman, T. A Michalak, R. C Kusch, S. G.W Kaminskyj, K. L Jack, M. C.O Ferrari, R. J Pollock, C. F Halbgewachs, et al. (2007)
Proc R Soc B 274, 2611-2619
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mechanisms and fitness effects of interspecific information use between migrant and resident birds.
J. T. Forsman, R. L. Thomson, and J.-T. Seppanen (2007)
Behav. Ecol. 18, 888-894
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The evolution of animal 'cultures' and social intelligence.
A. Whiten and C. P van Schaik (2007)
Phil Trans R Soc B 362, 603-620
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
When to use social information: the advantage of large group size in individual decision making.
A. J King and G. Cowlishaw (2007)
Biol Lett 3, 137-139
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Public information for solitary foragers: timber rattlesnakes use conspecific chemical cues to select ambush sites.
R. W. Clark (2007)
Behav. Ecol. 18, 487-490
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The mixed-species chorus as public information: tungara frogs eavesdrop on a heterospecific.
S. M. Phelps, A. S. Rand, and M. J. Ryan (2007)
Behav. Ecol. 18, 108-114
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mechanisms underlying sexual and affiliative behaviors of mice: relation to generalized CNS arousal.
D. N. Shelley, E. Choleris, M. Kavaliers, and D. W. Pfaff (2006)
Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 1, 260-270
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Group decision making in fission-fusion societies: evidence from two-field experiments in Bechstein's bats.
G. Kerth, C. Ebert, and C. Schmidtke (2006)
Proc R Soc B 273, 2785-2790
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Social cues facilitate habitat selection: American redstarts establish breeding territories in response to song.
B. A Hahn and E. D Silverman (2006)
Biol Lett 2, 337-340
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Public information and conspecific nest parasitism in goldeneyes: targeting safe nests by parasites.
H. Poysa (2006)
Behav. Ecol. 17, 459-465
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Inadvertent social information and the avoidance of parasitized male mice: A role for oxytocin..
M. Kavaliers, E. Choleris, A. Agmo, W. J. Braun, D. D. Colwell, L. J. Muglia, S. Ogawa, and D. W. Pfaff (2006)
PNAS 103, 4293-4298
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Luther Burbank: Honorary Member of the American Breeders' Association.
W. D. Stansfield (2006)
J. Hered. 97, 95-99
   Full Text »    PDF »
Predator detection and avoidance by starlings under differing scenarios of predation risk.
C. L. Devereux, M. J. Whittingham, E. Fernandez-Juricic, J. A. Vickery, and J. R. Krebs (2006)
Behav. Ecol. 17, 303-309
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Alternative models of conspecific attraction in flies and crabs.
J. Stamps, R. McElreath, and P. Eason (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 974-980
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Foraging nine-spined sticklebacks prefer to rely on public information over simpler social cues.
I. Coolen, A. J.W. Ward, P. J.B. Hart, and K. N. Laland (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 865-870
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The hidden cost of information in collective foraging.
F.-X. Dechaume-Moncharmont, A. Dornhaus, A. I Houston, J. M McNamara, E. J Collins, and N. R Franks (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 1689-1695
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Socially transmitted mate preferences in a monogamous bird: a non-genetic mechanism of sexual selection.
J. P Swaddle, M. G Cathey, M. Correll, and B. P Hodkinson (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 1053-1058
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) store both food and information in honeypots.
A. Dornhaus and L. Chittka (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 661-666
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)