Harsh and variable ecological conditions modulate the relationship between social structure and direct fitness in a plurally breeding small mammal

Evidence suggests that harsh and variable environmental conditions modulate the fitness benefits associated with increased group size in some species. Social network analysis is a more powerful approach to examine this relationship, as the quality of interactions is more important than quantity. Using 9 years of data, I determined how mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of nine ecological variables modulated the relationship between social network metrics on direct fitness in the plurally breeding rodent, Octodon degus. As predicted, increased social structure was most beneficial when food abundance was more variable, mean monthly rainfall was highest, predator abundance was more variable, soil hardness was more variable, and ectoparasitic flea intensity was low and more variable. In contrast, the observed effect of the CV of burrow density and mean food abundance on the relationship between strength and direct fitness contradicted our predictions. Overall, our results illustrate that the harshness and unpredictability of ecological conditions are not mutually exclusive explanations for social structure-direct fitness covariation.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Carroll, Kathleen Anne

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hayes, Loren
• Gaudin, Timothy; Klug, Hope
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Degus
• Behavioral assessment -- Animal models
• Rodents -- Behavior
• Social behavior in animals

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/448

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1590