Long term analysis of social structure: evidence of age-based consistent associations in male Alpine ibex
Authors
Brambilla, Alicevon Hardenberg, Achaz
Canedoli, Claudia
Brivio, Francesca
Sueur, Cédric
Stanley, Christina R.
Affiliation
University of Zurich; University of Chester; University of Milano Bicocca; University of Sassari; University de Strasbourg; Institut Universitaire de FrancePublication Date
2022-06-28
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Despite its recognized importance for understanding the evolution of animal sociality as well as for conservation, long term analysis of social networks of animal populations is still relatively uncommon. We investigated social network dynamics in males of a gregarious mountain ungulate (Alpine ibex, Capra ibex) over ten years focusing on groups, sub-groups and individuals, exploring the dynamics of sociality over different scales. Despite the social structure changing between seasons, the Alpine ibex population was highly cohesive: fission–fusion dynamics lead almost every male in the population to associate with each other male at least once. Nevertheless, we found that male Alpine ibex showed preferential associations that were maintained across seasons and years. Age seemed to be the most important factor driving preferential associations while other characteristics, such as social status, appeared less crucial. We also found that centrality measures were influenced by age and were also related to individual physical condition. The multi-scale and long-term frame of our study helped us show that ecological constrains, such as resource availability, may play a role in shaping associations in a gregarious species, but they cannot solely explain sociality and preferential association that are likely also to be driven by life-history linked physiological and social needs. Our results highlight the importance of long-term studies based on individually recognizable subjects to help us build on our understanding of the evolution of animal sociality.Citation
Brambilla, A., von Hardenberg, A., Canedoli, C., Brivio, F., Sueur, C., & Stanley, C. R. (2022). Long term analysis of social structure: Evidence of age‐based consistent associations in male Alpine ibex. Oikos, 8, e09511. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.09511Publisher
WileyJournal
OikosAdditional Links
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/oik.09511Type
ArticleISSN
0030-1299EISSN
1600-0706ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/oik.09511
Scopus Count
Collections
The following license files are associated with this item:
- Creative Commons