Social networks in changing environments

Social network analysis (SNA) has become a widespread tool for the study of animal social organisation. However despite this broad applicability, SNA is currently limited by both an overly strong focus on pattern analysis as well as a lack of dynamic interaction models. Here, we use a dynamic modell...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral ecology and sociobiology 2015-10, Vol.69 (10), p.1617-1629
Main Authors: Wilson, A. D. M, Krause, S, Ramnarine, I. W, Borner, K. K, Clément, R. J. G, Kurvers, R. H. J. M, Krause, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal Ecology
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Birds
coevolution
dynamic models
Environmental changes
fish
Habitat changes
habitats
Infectious diseases
Life Sciences
Original Article
Poecilia reticulata
Population density
sex ratio
sex reversal
Social network analysis
social networks
Zoology
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Summary:Social network analysis (SNA) has become a widespread tool for the study of animal social organisation. However despite this broad applicability, SNA is currently limited by both an overly strong focus on pattern analysis as well as a lack of dynamic interaction models. Here, we use a dynamic modelling approach that can capture the responses of social networks to changing environments. Using the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, we identified the general properties of the social dynamics underlying fish social networks and found that they are highly robust to differences in population density and habitat changes. Movement simulations showed that this robustness could buffer changes in transmission processes over a surprisingly large density range. These simulation results suggest that the ability of social systems to self-stabilise could have important implications for the spread of infectious diseases and information. In contrast to habitat manipulations, social manipulations (e.g. change of sex ratios) produced strong, but short-lived, changes in network dynamics. Lastly, we discuss how the evolution of the observed social dynamics might be linked to predator attack strategies. We argue that guppy social networks are an emergent property of social dynamics resulting from predator–prey co-evolution. Our study highlights the need to develop dynamic models of social networks in connection with an evolutionary framework.
ISSN:0340-5443
1432-0762
DOI:10.1007/s00265-015-1973-2