title: The evolutionary and ecological consequences of animal social networks: emerging issues.
abstract: The first generation of research on animal social networks was primarily aimed at introducing the concept of social networks to the fields of animal behaviour and behavioural ecology. More recently, a diverse body of evidence has shown that social fine structure matters on a broader scale than initially expected, affecting many key ecological and evolutionary processes. Here, we review this development. We discuss the effects of social network structure on evolutionary dynamics (genetic drift, fixation probabilities, and frequency-dependent selection) and social evolution (cooperation and between-individual behavioural differences). We discuss how social network structure can affect important coevolutionary processes (host-pathogen interactions and mutualisms) and population stability. We also discuss the potentially important, but poorly studied, role of social network structure on dispersal and invasion. Throughout, we highlight important areas for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Mueggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: ralf.kurvers@igb-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Ralf H J M
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kurvers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Mueggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany; Humboldt University of Berlin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Invalidenstraße 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research In Animal Behaviour, College of Life & Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK.
authors.forename: Darren P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Croft
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Mueggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander D M
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Mueggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005075:Biological Evolution; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012919:Social Behavior; D013559:Symbiosis
keywords: coevolution; dispersal; evolutionary dynamics; invasion; population stability; social evolution; social networks; social structure