title: Seasonal changes in the structure of rhesus macaque social networks.
abstract: Social structure emerges from the patterning of interactions between individuals and plays a critical role in shaping some of the main characteristics of animal populations. The topological features of social structure, such as the extent to which individuals interact in clusters, can influence many biologically important factors, including the persistence of cooperation, and the rate of spread of disease. Yet the extent to which social structure topology fluctuates over relatively short periods of time in relation to social, demographic or environmental events remains unclear. Here, we use social network analysis to examine seasonal changes in the topology of social structures that emerge from socio-positive associations in adult female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Behavioral data for two different association types (grooming, spatial proximity) were collected for females in two free-ranging groups during two seasons: the mating and birth seasons. Stronger dyadic bonds resulted in social structures that were more tightly connected (i.e. of greater density) in the mating season compared to the birth season. Social structures were also more centralized around a subset of individuals, and were more clustered in the mating season than the birth season, although the latter differences were mostly driven by differences in density alone. Our results suggest a degree of temporal variation in the topological features of social structure in this population. Such variation may feed back on interactions, hence affecting the behaviors of individuals, and may therefore be important to take into account in studies of animal behavior.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Evolutionary and Environmental Anthropology, University of Roehampton, Holybourne Ave, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom ; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, 450 Research Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lauren J N
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Brent
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maclarnon
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semple
keywords: network topology; rhesus macaques; social network analysis; social structure
references.citation: Ecol Lett. 2011 Jun;14(6):546-51
references.pmid: 21463459
references.citation: J Theor Biol. 2008 May 7;252(1):77-86
references.pmid: 18342891
references.citation: Am Nat. 2006 Sep;168(3):E87-102
references.pmid: 16947103
references.citation: Anim Behav. 1999 Nov;58(5):1143-1153
references.pmid: 10564619
references.citation: Folia Primatol (Basel). 1994;63(4):192-202
references.pmid: 7797165
references.citation: J Theor Biol. 1990 Aug 23;145(4):511-22
references.pmid: 2246899
references.citation: J Comp Psychol. 1992 Dec;106(4):323-30
references.pmid: 1451415
references.citation: Am J Primatol. 2011 Aug;73(8):821-33
references.pmid: 21590698
references.citation: Horm Behav. 2008 Jun;54(1):170-7
references.pmid: 18396288
references.citation: Nature. 2006 Jan 26;439(7075):426-9
references.pmid: 16437106
references.citation: J Theor Biol. 1977 Apr 21;65(4):671-98
references.pmid: 406485
references.citation: Biol Lett. 2006 Dec 22;2(4):497-500
references.pmid: 17148272
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2009 Dec 22;276(1677):4417-22
references.pmid: 19793756
references.citation: Nature. 1998 Jun 4;393(6684):440-2
references.pmid: 9623998
references.citation: Anim Behav. 1999 Jul;58(1):67-75
references.pmid: 10413542
references.citation: Ecol Lett. 2009 Nov;12(11):1147-57
references.pmid: 19694783
references.citation: Am J Primatol. 2011 Aug;73(8):720-30
references.pmid: 21433047
references.citation: Oecologia. 2007 Feb;151(1):140-9
references.pmid: 16964497
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2008 Jun 22;275(1641):1367-74
references.pmid: 18381257
references.citation: Prev Vet Med. 2003 Jun 12;59(3):147-67
references.pmid: 12809760
references.citation: J Anim Ecol. 2006 Jan;75(1):14-24
references.pmid: 16903039
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2010 Oct;25(10):562-73
references.pmid: 20828863
references.citation: Oecologia. 2005 Mar;143(2):211-9
references.pmid: 15682346
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2006 Mar 22;273(1587):707-12
references.pmid: 16608690
references.citation: J R Soc Interface. 2005 Sep 22;2(4):295-307
references.pmid: 16849187
references.citation: Am J Phys Anthropol. 1965 Mar;23(1):1-17
references.pmid: 14326951
references.citation: Anim Behav. 1999 Dec;58(6):1223-1229
references.pmid: 10600143
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2003 Nov 7;270 Suppl 2:S186-8
references.pmid: 14667378
references.citation: Science. 2001 Apr 20;292(5516):491-4
references.pmid: 11313492
references.citation: Primates. 2009 Oct;50(4):343-56
references.pmid: 19533270
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2009 Jul 22;276(1667):2651-6
references.pmid: 19386653
references.citation: Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1997 Jan 15;807:185-202
references.pmid: 9071351
references.citation: Nature. 2005 Sep 29;437(7059):737-40
references.pmid: 16113685
references.citation: Behaviour. 1974;49(3):227-67
references.pmid: 4597405