Animal social networks are robust to changing association definitions

Abstract

The interconnecting links between individuals in an animal social network are often defined by discrete, directed behaviours, but where these are difficult to observe, a network link (edge) may instead be defined by individuals sharing a space at the same time, which can then be used to infer a social association. The method by which these associations are defined should be informed by the biological significance of edges, and therefore often vary between studies. Identifying an appropriate measure of association remains a challenge to behavioural ecologists. Here, we use automatically recorded feeder visit data from four bird systems to compare three methods to identify a social association: (1) strict time-window, (2) co-occurrence in a group, and (3) arrival-time. We tested the similarity of the resulting networks by comparing the repeatability and sensitivity of individuals’ social traits (network degree, strength, betweenness). We found that networks constructed using different methods but applying similar, ecologically relevant definitions of associations based on individuals’ spatio-temporal co-occurrence, showed similar characteristics. Our findings suggest that the different methods to construct animal social networks are comparable, but result in subtle differences driven by species biology and feeder design. We urge researchers to carefully evaluate the ecological context of their study systems when making methodological decisions. Specifically, researchers in ecology and evolution should carefully consider the biological relevance of an edge in animal social networks, and the implications of adopting different definitions.

Enhancing the transformative potential of agroecology in Europe by examining the common ground and specificities between social movements and institutional definitions
Raquel Luján Soto, Marta Guadalupe Rivera Ferre, Stephen Leitheiser +5
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems28 Jul 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textGeneral biologyHAL
Trajectory of the Landes forest (1850-2022): a carbon sink subject to changing social and ecological dynamics
Thérèse Rabotin, Dalia Fages-Gouyou, Gilles Billen +1
Revue forestière française1 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEcology Environmental science & pollutionHAL
Asymmetric Costs of Coordination Errors Generate Selection on Social and Sensorimotor Phenotypes in an Animal Collective
L. C. Larter, M. J. Ryan, M. J. Fuxjager
bioRxiv9 Jul 2026PreprintAll rights reservedFull textZoology & animal behaviourbioRxiv
Social anchors: how previous social locations shape current animal movement and habitat selection
J. Kusch, J. Hendrix, F. Tu +3
bioRxiv16 Oct 2026PreprintCC BY-NC-NDFull textEcologybioRxiv
Animal-borne accelerometers do not reliably identify social calls from tagged humpback whales
Jeanne M. Shearer, Susan E. Parks, Douglas Gillespie +4
Royal Society Open Science30 Sep 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEcologyCrossref

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{chan2026animal,
  title = {{Animal social networks are robust to changing association definitions}},
  author = {Alex Hoi Hang Chan and Jamie Dunning and Kristina Beck and Terry Burke and Heung Ying Janet Chik and Daniel Dunleavy and Tim Evans and André C. Ferreira and Babette Fourie and Simon Griffith and Friederike Hillemann and Julia Schroeder},
  journal = {Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1007/s00265-025-03559-7},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05735871v1},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Animal social networks are robust to changing association definitions
AU  - Alex Hoi Hang Chan
AU  - Jamie Dunning
AU  - Kristina Beck
AU  - Terry Burke
AU  - Heung Ying Janet Chik
AU  - Daniel Dunleavy
AU  - Tim Evans
AU  - André C. Ferreira
AU  - Babette Fourie
AU  - Simon Griffith
AU  - Friederike Hillemann
AU  - Julia Schroeder
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/02
JO  - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
DO  - 10.1007/s00265-025-03559-7
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05735871v1
AB  - The interconnecting links between individuals in an animal social network are often defined by discrete, directed behaviours, but where these are difficult to observe, a network link (edge) may instead be defined by individuals sharing a space at the same time, which can then be used to infer a social association. The method by which these associations are defined should be informed by the biological significance of edges, and therefore often vary between studies. Identifying an appropriate measure of association remains a challenge to behavioural ecologists. Here, we use automatically recorded feeder visit data from four bird systems to compare three methods to identify a social association: (1) strict time-window, (2) co-occurrence in a group, and (3) arrival-time. We tested the similarity of the resulting networks by comparing the repeatability and sensitivity of individuals’ social traits (network degree, strength, betweenness). We found that networks constructed using different methods but applying similar, ecologically relevant definitions of associations based on individuals’ spatio-temporal co-occurrence, showed similar characteristics. Our findings suggest that the different methods to construct animal social networks are comparable, but result in subtle differences driven by species biology and feeder design. We urge researchers to carefully evaluate the ecological context of their study systems when making methodological decisions. Specifically, researchers in ecology and evolution should carefully consider the biological relevance of an edge in animal social networks, and the implications of adopting different definitions.
SN  - 0340-5443
SN  - 1432-0762
ER  -

Abstract

Related

Cite