  Collective motion is commonly modeled with simple interaction rules between
agents. Yet in nature, numerous observables vary within and between individuals
and it remains largely unknown how animals respond to this variability, and how
much of it may be the result of social responses. Here, we hypothesize that
Guppies (\textit{Poecilia reticulata}) respond to avoidance behaviors of their
shoal mates and that "socially competent" responses allow them to be more
effective leaders. We test this hypothesis in an experimental setting in which
a robotic Guppy, called RoboFish, is programmed to adapt to avoidance reactions
of its live interaction partner. We compare the leadership performance between
socially competent robots and two non-competent control behaviors and find that
1) behavioral variability itself appears attractive and that socially competent
robots are better leaders that 2) require fewer approach attempts to 3) elicit
longer average following behavior than non-competent agents. This work provides
evidence that social responsiveness to avoidance reactions plays a role in the
social dynamics of guppies. We showcase how social responsiveness can be
modeled and tested directly embedded in a living animal model using adaptive,
interactive robots.
