Network metrics reveal differences in social organization between two fission-fusion species, Grevy's zebra and onager. Export

@article{citeulike:938243, abstract = {For species in which group membership frequently changes, it has been a challenge to characterize variation in individual interactions and social structure. Quantifying this variation is necessary to test hypotheses about ecological determinants of social patterns and to make predictions about how group dynamics affect the development of cooperative relationships and transmission processes. Network models have recently become popular for analyzing individual contacts within a population context. We use network metrics to compare populations of Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) and onagers (Equus hemionus khur). These closely related equids, previously described as having the same social system, inhabit environments differing in the distribution of food, water, and predators. Grevy's zebra and onagers are one example of many sets of coarsely similar fission-fusion species and populations, observed elsewhere in other ungulates, primates, and cetaceans. Our analysis of the population association networks reveals contrasts consistent with their distinctive environments. Grevy's zebra individuals are more selective in their association choices. Grevy's zebra form stable cliques, while onager associations are more fluid. We find evidence that females associate assortatively by reproductive state in Grevy's zebra but not in onagers. The current approach demonstrates the utility of network metrics for identifying fine-grained variation among individuals and populations in association patterns. From our analysis, we can make testable predictions about behavioral mechanisms underlying social structure and its effects on transmission processes.}, address = {Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.}, author = {Sundaresan, Siva R. and Fischhoff, Ilya R. and Dushoff, Jonathan and Rubenstein, Daniel I.}, citeulike-article-id = {938243}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0553-6}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16964497}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=16964497}, day = {9}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-006-0553-6}, issn = {0029-8549}, journal = {Oecologia}, keywords = {animal\_network, empirical, network, social, subgroups, zebras}, month = {September}, posted-at = {2006-11-09 19:35:21}, priority = {2}, title = {Network metrics reveal differences in social organization between two fission-fusion species, Grevy's zebra and onager.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0553-6}, year = {2006} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:938243 L3 - citeulike-article-id:938243 N2 - For species in which group membership frequently changes, it has been a challenge to characterize variation in individual interactions and social structure. Quantifying this variation is necessary to test hypotheses about ecological determinants of social patterns and to make predictions about how group dynamics affect the development of cooperative relationships and transmission processes. Network models have recently become popular for analyzing individual contacts within a population context. We use network metrics to compare populations of Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) and onagers (Equus hemionus khur). These closely related equids, previously described as having the same social system, inhabit environments differing in the distribution of food, water, and predators. Grevy's zebra and onagers are one example of many sets of coarsely similar fission-fusion species and populations, observed elsewhere in other ungulates, primates, and cetaceans. Our analysis of the population association networks reveals contrasts consistent with their distinctive environments. Grevy's zebra individuals are more selective in their association choices. Grevy's zebra form stable cliques, while onager associations are more fluid. We find evidence that females associate assortatively by reproductive state in Grevy's zebra but not in onagers. The current approach demonstrates the utility of network metrics for identifying fine-grained variation among individuals and populations in association patterns. From our analysis, we can make testable predictions about behavioral mechanisms underlying social structure and its effects on transmission processes. JF - Oecologia SN - 0029-8549 AD - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. TI - Network metrics reveal differences in social organization between two fission-fusion species, Grevy's zebra and onager. KW - animal_network KW - empirical KW - network KW - social KW - subgroups KW - zebras AU - Sundaresan, Siva AU - Fischhoff, Ilya AU - Dushoff, Jonathan AU - Rubenstein, Daniel PY - 2006/09/09/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0553-6 ER -