Topological effects of network structure on long-term social network dynamics in a wild mammal
Authored by Amiyaal Ilany, Andrew S Booms, Kay E Holekamp
Date Published: 2015
DOI: 10.1111/ele.12447
Sponsors:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
United States Department of Homeland Security
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Platforms:
R
RSiena
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Social structure influences ecological processes such as dispersal and
invasion, and affects survival and reproductive success. Recent studies
have used static snapshots of social networks, thus neglecting their
temporal dynamics, and focused primarily on a limited number of
variables that might be affecting social structure. Here, instead we
modelled effects of multiple predictors of social network dynamics in
the spotted hyena, using observational data collected during 20years of
continuous field research in Kenya. We tested the hypothesis that the
current state of the social network affects its long-term dynamics. We
employed stochastic agent-based models that allowed us to estimate the
contribution of multiple factors to network changes. After controlling
for environmental and individual effects, we found that network density
and individual centrality affected network dynamics, but that social
bond transitivity consistently had the strongest effects. Our results
emphasise the significance of structural properties of networks in
shaping social dynamics.
Tags
Cooperation
behavior
patterns
transmission
Association
Consequences
Hyena crocuta-crocuta
Fission-fusion dynamics
Spotted hyena
Temporal
dynamics