Search

Help us find what you are looking for by searching for species, products, technologies and other keywords.

Proximity data-loggers increase the quantity and quality of social network data.

  • August 1, 2012
  • by Ryder, T. B., Horton, B. M., Van Den Tillaart, M., De Dios Morales, J., & Moore, I. T.

Abstract
Social network analysis is an ideal quantitative tool for advancing our understanding of complex social behaviour. However, this approach is often limited by the challenges of accurately characterizing social structure and measuring network heterogeneity. Technological advances have facilitated the study of social networks, but to date, all such work has focused on large vertebrates. Here, we provide proof of concept for using proximity data-logging to quantify the frequency of social interactions, construct weighted networks and characterize variation in the social behaviour of a lek-breeding bird, the wire-tailed manakin, Pipra filicauda. Our results highlight how this approach can ameliorate the challenges of social network data collection and analysis by concurrently improving data quality and quantity.

PUBLICATION AVAILABLE AT: http://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2012.0536

Related Products