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Harsh and variable ecological conditions modulate the relationship between social structure and direct fitness in a plurally breeding small mammal

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Title: Harsh and variable ecological conditions modulate the relationship between social structure and direct fitness in a plurally breeding small mammal
Authors: Carroll, Kathleen Anne
Committee Members: Hayes, Loren; Gaudin, Timothy; Klug, Hope; College of Arts and Sciences
Summary: Evidence suggests that harsh and variable environmental conditions modulate the fitness benefits associated with increased group size in some species. Social network analysis is a more powerful approach to examine this relationship, as the quality of interactions is more important than quantity. Using 9 years of data, I determined how mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of nine ecological variables modulated the relationship between social network metrics on direct fitness in the plurally breeding rodent, Octodon degus. As predicted, increased social structure was most beneficial when food abundance was more variable, mean monthly rainfall was highest, predator abundance was more variable, soil hardness was more variable, and ectoparasitic flea intensity was low and more variable. In contrast, the observed effect of the CV of burrow density and mean food abundance on the relationship between strength and direct fitness contradicted our predictions. Overall, our results illustrate that the harshness and unpredictability of ecological conditions are not mutually exclusive explanations for social structure-direct fitness covariation.
URL: https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/448
Database: OpenDissertations
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Header DbId: ddu
DbLabel: OpenDissertations
An: ddu.oai.scholar.utc.edu.theses.1590
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Dissertation/ Thesis
PubTypeId: dissertation
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Harsh and variable ecological conditions modulate the relationship between social structure and direct fitness in a plurally breeding small mammal
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carroll%2C+Kathleen+Anne%22">Carroll, Kathleen Anne</searchLink>
– Name: Author
  Label: Committee Members
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="CO" term="%22Hayes%2C+Loren%22">Hayes, Loren</searchLink>; <searchLink fieldCode="CO" term="%22Gaudin%2C+Timothy%22">Gaudin, Timothy</searchLink>; <searchLink fieldCode="CO" term="%22Klug%2C+Hope%22">Klug, Hope</searchLink>; <searchLink fieldCode="CO" term="%22College+of+Arts+and+Sciences%22">College of Arts and Sciences</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Summary
  Group: Ab
  Data: Evidence suggests that harsh and variable environmental conditions modulate the fitness benefits associated with increased group size in some species. Social network analysis is a more powerful approach to examine this relationship, as the quality of interactions is more important than quantity. Using 9 years of data, I determined how mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of nine ecological variables modulated the relationship between social network metrics on direct fitness in the plurally breeding rodent, Octodon degus. As predicted, increased social structure was most beneficial when food abundance was more variable, mean monthly rainfall was highest, predator abundance was more variable, soil hardness was more variable, and ectoparasitic flea intensity was low and more variable. In contrast, the observed effect of the CV of burrow density and mean food abundance on the relationship between strength and direct fitness contradicted our predictions. Overall, our results illustrate that the harshness and unpredictability of ecological conditions are not mutually exclusive explanations for social structure-direct fitness covariation.
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  Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/448" linkWindow="_blank">https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/448</link>
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ddu&AN=ddu.oai.scholar.utc.edu.theses.1590
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Degus
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavioral assessment -- Animal models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rodents -- Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social behavior in animals
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Harsh and variable ecological conditions modulate the relationship between social structure and direct fitness in a plurally breeding small mammal
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Carroll, Kathleen Anne
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2016
ResultId 1