2025/07/22 by Sonia Kleindorfer, Andrew C. Katsis, Didone Frigerio +3 · 1 citation
Veterinary · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies #Meat and Animal Product Quality #Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
paper · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.113170
) in relation to personality traits (boldness, aggressiveness, and exploration). We calculated an influencer score based on the number of followers for sub-group movement events across four years. Influencer score was weakly but significantly repeatable over time, and all three personality traits were repeatable. Greylag geese with higher influencer scores were bolder, and geese that were first to follow a non-partner influencer goose were more exploratory and more likely to look behind the mirror during a mirror stimulation test. In light of these findings, we discuss potential individual-level benefits of following a bold individual and the presumed group-level benefits of new information spread via followers open to novelty.