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Phenotypic assortment in wild primate networks: implications for the dissemination of information.


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Authors

Lee, Alexander EG 
Ticó, Miquel Torrents 
Cowlishaw, Guy 

Abstract

Individuals' access to social information can depend on their social network. Homophily-a preference to associate with similar phenotypes-may cause assortment within social networks that could preclude information transfer from individuals who generate information to those who would benefit from acquiring it. Thus, understanding phenotypic assortment may lead to a greater understanding of the factors that could limit the transfer of information between individuals. We tested whether there was assortment in wild baboon (Papio ursinus) networks, using data collected from two troops over 6 years for six phenotypic traits-boldness, age, dominance rank, sex and the propensity to generate/exploit information-using two methods for defining a connection between individuals-time spent in proximity and grooming. Our analysis indicated that assortment was more common in grooming than proximity networks. In general, there was homophily for boldness, age, rank and the propensity to both generate and exploit information, but heterophily for sex. However, there was considerable variability both between troops and years. The patterns of homophily we observed for these phenotypes may impede information transfer between them. However, the inconsistency in the strength of assortment between troops and years suggests that the limitations to information flow may be quite variable.

Description

Keywords

chacma baboon, personality, phenotypic assortment, social information, social network

Journal Title

R Soc Open Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2054-5703
2054-5703

Volume Title

2

Publisher

The Royal Society
Sponsorship
A.J.C. is supported by a Junior Research Fellowship from Churchill College, University of Cambridge. H.H.M. was supported by a NERC Open CASE studentship (NE/F013442/1). A.E.G.L. is supported by a NERC Quota studentship (NE/J500409/1). The TBP researchers have received funding from NERC, the Leakey Foundation, the Explorers Fund, the Animal Behavior Society (USA) and the International Primatological Society over the 6 years of the study.