Publication: What is a subgroup? How socioecological factors influence interindividual distance
Issued Date
2012-11-01
Resource Type
ISSN
14657279
10452249
10452249
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-84867790237
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Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Behavioral Ecology. Vol.23, No.6 (2012), 1308-1315
Suggested Citation
Filippo Aureli, Colleen M. Schaffner, Norberto Asensio, David Lusseau What is a subgroup? How socioecological factors influence interindividual distance. Behavioral Ecology. Vol.23, No.6 (2012), 1308-1315. doi:10.1093/beheco/ars122 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/13378
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Title
What is a subgroup? How socioecological factors influence interindividual distance
Abstract
Fission-fusion dynamics derive from spatial adjustments that animals make depending on resource distribution, resulting in splitting and merging of subgroups. New frameworks propose to classify social systems depending on their degree of fission-fusion dynamics, but little has been done to quantify such dynamics. Operationally defining subgroup is a building block in such quantification. We aimed to define subgroup using interindividual distances (IIDs), while examining the relative contribution of social and ecological factors on the distribution of such distances. We employed a modeling approach using location data collected with a handheld GPS unit from single individuals belonging to a long-term study community of wild spider monkeys and determined the minimum distance at which 2 individuals can be considered in different subgroups. Our results strongly support the crucial role of both social and ecological factors in influencing the way individuals position themselves with respect to other group members. Our socioecological model explained the observed interactivity and interseasonal variation in IIDs in a biologically relevant manner. The critical IID to define subgroup fell within the expected range from field observations. This modeling approach can contribute to the understanding of the factors influencing the evolution of social systems. © 2012 The Author.