Final answer:
Elephants, bees, and fish shoals engage in group decision making characterized by cooperation, consensus, and communication among group members for collective benefit, often without a centralized leader.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of group decision making shown by social animals such as elephants, bees, and fish shoals is characterized by cooperation and consensus among group members for the benefit of the collective. In the case of bees, decision making is incredibly complex and involves a quorum sensing system where a consensus must be reached before the entire group will act on a decision, such as when selecting a new nest site. Fish shoals exhibit coordinated movement and rapid response to threats, which implies a highly refined communication system to maintain synchronization without a clear leader. Similarly, elephants make group decisions through social cues and communication, particularly in aspects like movement and protection. These animals cooperate by using innate behaviors to communicate with one another and make decisions that benefit the entire group.