Comparative approaches in social network ecology DOI Creative Commons

Greg Albery,

Shweta Bansal, Matthew J. Silk

et al.

Published: Sept. 8, 2023

Social systems vary enormously across the animal kingdom, with important implications for ecological and evolutionary processes such as infectious disease dynamics, anti-predator defense, evolution of cooperation. Comparing social network structures between species offers a promising route to help disentangle that shape this diversity. Comparative analyses networks like these are challenging have been used relatively little in ecology, but becoming increasingly feasible number empirical datasets expands. Here, we provide an overview multispecies comparative studies ecology evolution. We identify range advancements made key challenges they face, use guide methodological suggestions future research. Overall, hope motivate wider publication analysis open ecology.

Language: Английский

Social learning mechanisms shape transmission pathways through replicate local social networks of wild birds DOI Creative Commons
Kristina B. Beck, Ben C. Sheldon, Josh A. Firth

et al.

eLife, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: April 25, 2023

The emergence and spread of novel behaviours via social learning can lead to rapid population-level changes whereby the connections between individuals shape information flow. However, different mechanisms little is known about how flow depends on underlying rule employ. Here, comparing four mechanisms, we simulated behavioural replicate empirical networks wild great tits explored relationship individual sociality order acquisition. Our results reveal that, for rules dependent sum strength informed individuals, connectivity was related acquisition, with increased reduced clustering adopting new faster. when adoption ratio an individuals’ versus uninformed not Finally, show specific may limit within networks. These findings have important implications understanding whether are likely across systems, therefore costs benefits sociality.

Language: Английский

Citations

12
Understanding age and society using natural populations DOI Creative Commons
Josh A. Firth, Gregory F. Albery, Sandra Bouwhuis

et al.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1916)

Published: Oct. 28, 2024

Ageing affects almost all aspects of life and therefore is an important process across societies, human non-human animal alike. This article introduces new research exploring the complex interplay between individual-level ageing demography, consequences this holds for structure functioning societies various natural populations. We discuss how Special Issue provides a foundation integrating perspectives from evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology demography to provide insights into shapes individuals’ social behaviour associations, in turn impacts networks, processes (such as disease or information transfer) fitness. Through examining these topics taxa, invertebrates birds mammals, we outline contemporary studies are using populations advance our understanding relationship age society innovative ways. highlight key emerging themes Issue, such sociality lifespan health, genetic ecological underpinnings adaptive strategies employed by different species. conclude that underscores importance studying diverse systems interdisciplinary approaches advancing both more generally. part discussion meeting issue ‘Understanding ’.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Animal social networks are robust to changing association definitions DOI Creative Commons
Alex Hoi Hang Chan, Jamie Dunning, Kristina B. Beck

et al.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 79(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract The interconnecting links between individuals in an animal social network are often defined by discrete, directed behaviours, but where these difficult to observe, a link (edge) may instead be sharing space at the same time, which can then used infer association. method associations should informed biological significance of edges, and therefore vary studies. Identifying appropriate measure association remains challenge behavioural ecologists. Here, we use automatically recorded feeder visit data from four bird systems compare three methods identify association: (1) strict time-window, (2) co-occurrence group, (3) arrival-time. We tested similarity resulting networks comparing repeatability sensitivity individuals’ traits (network degree, strength, betweenness). found that constructed using different applying similar, ecologically relevant definitions based on spatio-temporal co-occurrence, showed similar characteristics. Our findings suggest construct comparable, result subtle differences driven species biology design. urge researchers carefully evaluate ecological context their study when making methodological decisions. Specifically, ecology evolution consider relevance edge networks, implications adopting definitions.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Embedding information flows within ecological networks DOI
Ulrich Brose, Myriam R. Hirt, Remo Ryser

et al.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 9(4), P. 547 - 558

Published: April 4, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
The role of social attraction and social avoidance in shaping modular networks DOI Creative Commons
Valéria Romano, Ivan Puga‐Gonzalez, Andrew J. J. MacIntosh

et al.

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

How interactions between individuals contribute to the emergence of complex societies is a major question in behavioural ecology. Nonetheless, little remains known about type immediate social structure (i.e. network) that emerges from relationships maximize beneficial (e.g. attraction towards informed individuals) and minimize costly avoidance infected group mates). We developed an agent-based model where vary degree which signal benefits versus costs others and, on this basis, choose with whom interact depending simple rules access highest benefits) avoiding costs). Our main findings demonstrate accumulation individual decisions avoid highly individuals, but are some extent homogeneously beneficial, leads more modular networks. On contrary, favouring costly, lead less Interestingly, statistical models also indicate when have multiple potentially partners with, no interaction cost exists, Yet, modularity contingent upon variability benefit levels held by individuals. discuss systems their consequences for understanding trade-offs.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Experimental manipulation of population density in a wild bird alters social structure but not patch discovery rate DOI Creative Commons
Kristina B. Beck, Charlotte E. Regan, Keith McMahon

et al.

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 209, P. 95 - 120

Published: Jan. 20, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

2
The contribution of movement to social network structure and spreading dynamics under simple and complex transmission DOI Creative Commons
Michael Chimento, Damien R. Farine

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1912)

Published: Sept. 4, 2024

The structure of social networks fundamentally influences spreading dynamics. In general, the more contact between individuals, opportunity there is for transmission information or disease to take place. Yet, and any resulting events, are determined by a combination spatial (where individuals choose move) rules (who they interact with learn from). Here, we examine effect social–spatial interface on dynamics using simulation model. We quantify relative effects different movement (localized, semi-localized, nomadic resource-based movement) (simple transmission, anti-conformity, proportional, conformity threshold rules) both spread novel behaviour. Localized created weakly connected sparse networks, dense generated strongly modular networks. rate varied combinations rules, but—importantly—the rankings changed when running simulations static versus dynamic representations Our results emphasize that individual-level behaviours influence emergent network structure, particular consequence under complex rules. This article part theme issue ‘The spatial–social interface: theoretical empirical integration’.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Immigrant birds learn from socially observed differences in payoffs when their environment changes DOI Creative Commons
Michael Chimento, Gustavo Alarcón‐Nieto, Lucy M. Aplin

et al.

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 22(11), P. e3002699 - e3002699

Published: Nov. 14, 2024

Longstanding theory predicts that strategic flexibility in when and how to use social information can help individuals make adaptive decisions, especially environments are temporally or spatially variable. A short-term increase reliance on under these conditions has been experimentally shown primates, including humans, but whether this occurs other taxa is unknown. We asked migration between variable affected with a large-scale cultural diffusion experiment wild great tits ( Parus major ) captivity, small passerine bird socially learn novel behaviors. simulated an immigration event where knowledgeable birds were exchanged groups opposing preferences for learned foraging puzzle, living similar different environments. found evidence both immigrants residents influenced by attended the rewards others received. Our analysis supported of payoff-biased learning resources habitat features In contrast, relied more-so individual payoffs environment unchanged. summary, our results suggest assess receive more observed differences environmental cues differ their new environment. provide experimental support hypothesis spatial variability strong driver evolution strategies.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Scalable Electrophysiology of Millimeter-Scale Animals with Electrode Devices DOI Creative Commons

Kairu Dong,

Wen-Che Liu,

Yuyan Su

et al.

BME Frontiers, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Millimeter-scale animals such as

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Comparative approaches in social network ecology DOI Creative Commons
Gregory F. Albery, Shweta Bansal, Matthew J. Silk

et al.

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 27(1)

Published: Dec. 9, 2023

Social systems vary enormously across the animal kingdom, with important implications for ecological and evolutionary processes such as infectious disease dynamics, anti-predator defence, evolution of cooperation. Comparing social network structures between species offers a promising route to help disentangle that shape this diversity. Comparative analyses networks like these are challenging have been used relatively little in ecology, but becoming increasingly feasible number empirical datasets expands. Here, we provide an overview multispecies comparative studies ecology evolution. We identify range advancements made key challenges they face, use guide methodological suggestions future research. Overall, hope motivate wider publication analysis open ecology.

Language: Английский

Citations

4