title: Social networks in primates: smart and tolerant species have more efficient networks.
abstract: Network optimality has been described in genes, proteins and human communicative networks. In the latter, optimality leads to the efficient transmission of information with a minimum number of connections. Whilst studies show that differences in centrality exist in animal networks with central individuals having higher fitness, network efficiency has never been studied in animal groups. Here we studied 78 groups of primates (24 species). We found that group size and neocortex ratio were correlated with network efficiency. Centralisation (whether several individuals are central in the group) and modularity (how a group is clustered) had opposing effects on network efficiency, showing that tolerant species have more efficient networks. Such network properties affecting individual fitness could be shaped by natural selection. Our results are in accordance with the social brain and cultural intelligence hypotheses, which suggest that the importance of network efficiency and information flow through social learning relates to cognitive abilities.
authors.affiliation: 1] Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquaretta
authors.affiliation: 1] Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France [3] Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levé
authors.affiliation: University of St Andrews, Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology &Neuroscience, St Andrews, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Claidière
authors.affiliation: 1] University of St Andrews, Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology &Neuroscience, St Andrews, United Kingdom [2] Inkawu Vervet Project, Mawana Game Reserve, Swart Mfolozi, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van de Waal
authors.affiliation: 1] University of St Andrews, Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Psychology &Neuroscience, St Andrews, United Kingdom [2] Inkawu Vervet Project, Mawana Game Reserve, Swart Mfolozi, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whiten
authors.affiliation: 1] Kyoto University, Primate Research Institute, Center for International Collaboration and Advanced Studies in Primatology Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan 484-8506 [2] Kyoto University Wildlife Research Center, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan 606-8203.
authors.forename: Andrew J J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: MacIntosh
authors.affiliation: Ethobiosciences, Research and Consultancy Agency in Animal Wellbeing and Behaviour, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pelé
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Mackenzie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bergstrom
authors.affiliation: 1] Inkawu Vervet Project, Mawana Game Reserve, Swart Mfolozi, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa [2] University of Neuchâtel, Institute of Biology, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christèle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borgeaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology &Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Brosnan
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A. [2] Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, Panama City, Panama.
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Crofoot
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fedigan
authors.affiliation: 1] Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany [2] Courant Research Centre "Evolution of Social Behaviour", University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fichtel
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychology &Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA [2] Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA [3] Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, 78602, USA.
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.affiliation: Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, 78602, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mareno
authors.affiliation: 1] Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France [3] Unit of Social Ecology, CP231, Université libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, Bd du triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: Courant Research Centre "Evolution of Social Behaviour", University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna Viktoria
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schnoell
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cognitive Primatology and Primate Center, ISTC-CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia Polizzi
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: di Sorrentino
authors.affiliation: 1] Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thierry
authors.affiliation: 1] Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany [2] Courant Research Centre "Evolution of Social Behaviour", University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tiddi
authors.affiliation: 1] Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France [3] Unit of Social Ecology, CP231, Université libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, Bd du triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sueur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007900:Lemur; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support