CASCB Talk: From individual differences to collective decisions - insights from the disc-winged bat
Time
Monday, 11. November 2024
11:45 - 13:00
Location
ZT702 and online
Organizer
CASCB
Speaker:
Gloriana Chaverri, University of Costa Rica
Abstract: In animal groups, individual differences in morphology, physiology, and behavior can significantly influence how collective decisions are made during tasks such as foraging, predator avoidance, and roost searching. This talk will focus on the disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor), a species that roosts inside the developing tubular leaves of plants like heliconias. As these leaves unfurl, bats become vulnerable to diurnal predators, forcing them to rapidly locate a new roost while maintaining group cohesion. Through a series of past and ongoing studies, I will show how individual differences, such as vocal activity, reliance on social versus personal information, and exploratory tendencies, influence these collective behaviors.
Specifically, I will examine how these traits shape tasks like the emission of social calls during roost searching, coordinated flight, and the call-and-response system that enables group decision-making.
Finally, I will discuss how these findings contribute to our broader understanding of collective behavior in small, stable animal societies, offering insights into the balance between individuality and cohesion in decision-making processes.
Bio: Dr. Gloriana Chaverri is a full professor at the University of Costa Rica and a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. She completed her Ph.D. in Biology at Boston University and has held postdoctoral positions at both Western Michigan University and Boston University. Dr. Chaverri’s research focuses on behavioral ecology and sensory ecology, with a particular interest in social behavior and communication in bats. Her work on disc-winged bats has advanced our understanding of group coordination and communication in complex social systems. Dr. Chaverri has numerous grants and collaborations spanning institutions worldwide. She currently holds a guest professor position at the Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, and continues to investigate how individual differences contribute to collective decision-making in stable societies of bats.
Her research also bridges behavioral ecology with conservation, offering insights into both the natural and social dynamics of these mammals.
E-mail-address: gloriana.chaverri@ucr.ac.cr
