Environment modulates population social structure: Experimental evidence from replicated social networks of wild lizards

摘要: Social structure is a fundamental component of population that drives ecological and evolutionary processes ranging from parasite transmission to sexual selection. Nevertheless, we have much learn about factors explain variation in social structure. We used advances biologging network analysis experimentally test how the local habitat, specifically habitat complexity, modulates at different levels wild populations. Sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa, establish nonrandom networks are characterized by avoidance some neighbours frequent interactions with one opposite-sex individual. Using synchronous GPS locations all adult constructed based on spatial proximity individuals. increased structural complexity two study populations adding 100 short fences across landscape. then compared resulting movement behaviour between these unmanipulated connectivity (network density) stability, measured weekly intervals, were greater complexity. The level agonistic interaction (quantified as scale damage) was also higher, indicating fitness cost connectivity. However, parameters unaffected including disassortative mixing sex, individual level, differentiation among associates (coefficient edge weights) maximal frequencies (maximal weight). This suggests divergent effects changed conditions association population. Our results contrast those studies more gregarious species, which higher environment relaxed shows response altered can differ fundamentally species or populations, suggest it depends their tendency for behaviour.