Seasonal variation and stability across years in a social network of wild giraffe

摘要: Animal social networks have been studied intensively in the last decade, but there are relatively few studies of their temporal stability and variation, including influence season. We quantified network structure across time a population wild giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis, South Africa. Our aim was to investigate differences between dry wet seasons years giraffe structure. found terms association patterns years, seasons, for as whole each sex separately. A comparison mean connectedness individuals revealed significant differences, with having more ties being stronger socially connected Further analyses that this result stemmed from female–female intersexual associations, whereas no evidence among males affected by In summary, while extent differed overall connection pattern stable over time. This study underlines importance long-term surveys animals demonstrates can adapt behaviour ecological changes simultaneously maintaining