Red deer synchronise their activity with close neighbours.

摘要: Models of collective animal behaviour frequently make assumptions about the effects neighbours on focal individuals, but these are rarely tested. One such set is that switch between active and inactive seen in herding animals influenced by activity close neighbours, where neighbouring show a higher degree behavioural synchrony than would be expected chance. We tested this assumption observing simultaneous paired individuals within herd red deer Cervus elaphus. Focal were more synchronised with their two closest third or randomly selected from herd. Our results suggest individual immediate neighbours. Even if we assume there no social relationships suggests made models influence may appropriate.