Sex-based differences in the adaptive value of social behavior contrasted against morphology and environment.

摘要: The adaptive nature of sociality has long been a central question in ecology and evolution. However, the relative importance social behavior for fitness, compared to morphology environment, remains largely unknown. We assessed fitness (lamb production survival) population mark6d bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) over 16 years (n = 1022 sheep-years). constructed networks from observations 38,350) group membership 3150 groups). then tested whether consistent individual differences (centrality) exist evaluated their factors known affect fitness: mass, age, parental effects, density. Sheep exhibited centrality. Controlling maternal carryover effects positive effect centrality network on adult female lamb survival was equal or greater than body mass Social had less male no survival. Through its survival, fission-fusion animal societies may ultimately influence dynamics equally more morphological environmental effects.