Use of proximity loggers and network analysis to quantify social interactions in free-ranging wild rabbit populations

TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of proximity loggers and network analysis to quantify social interactions in free-ranging wild rabbit populations

AU - Marsh, Maija K.

AU - McLeod, Steven R.

AU - Hutchings, Michael R.

AU - White, Piran C. L.

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Context. Social structure of group-living animals has important implications for processes such as gene flow, information transfer, resource utilisation, and disease spread. However, due to the difficulties associated with measuring relationships among wild animals and deriving meaningful estimates of social structure from these interactions, quantifying sociality of evasive species can be challenging.Aims. Our aim was to quantify the pattern of social interactions among free-ranging European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a temperate region of Australia.Methods. We used proximity logging devices to collect data on the dyadic interactions among two populations of rabbits. We then applied recently developed social structure and network analytical techniques to infer estimates of sociality and contact networks from recorded interactions.Key results. We found large heterogeneities in the strength of association indices and network centrality measures within but not between populations. Network analytical techniques revealed clustering of rabbits into distinct social groups. Conclusions. Most associations within social groups were strong and highly stable over time whereas interactions between groups were rare and transient, indicating low levels of inter-group mixing. Despite the apparent differences in habitat quality between sites, the network characteristics were extremely similar between the two populations.Implications. Our results highlight the importance of heterogeneities in individual behaviour in determining the dynamics of directly transmitted diseases at the population level.

AB - Context. Social structure of group-living animals has important implications for processes such as gene flow, information transfer, resource utilisation, and disease spread. However, due to the difficulties associated with measuring relationships among wild animals and deriving meaningful estimates of social structure from these interactions, quantifying sociality of evasive species can be challenging.Aims. Our aim was to quantify the pattern of social interactions among free-ranging European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a temperate region of Australia.Methods. We used proximity logging devices to collect data on the dyadic interactions among two populations of rabbits. We then applied recently developed social structure and network analytical techniques to infer estimates of sociality and contact networks from recorded interactions.Key results. We found large heterogeneities in the strength of association indices and network centrality measures within but not between populations. Network analytical techniques revealed clustering of rabbits into distinct social groups. Conclusions. Most associations within social groups were strong and highly stable over time whereas interactions between groups were rare and transient, indicating low levels of inter-group mixing. Despite the apparent differences in habitat quality between sites, the network characteristics were extremely similar between the two populations.Implications. Our results highlight the importance of heterogeneities in individual behaviour in determining the dynamics of directly transmitted diseases at the population level.

KW - contact network

KW - European wild rabbit

KW - Oryctolagus cuniculus

KW - RHDV

KW - social network

KW - social structure

KW - ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS

KW - BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS

KW - HEMORRHAGIC-DISEASE

KW - MELES-MELES

KW - HABITAT USE

KW - BEHAVIOR

KW - INDIVIDUALS

KW - ORGANIZATION

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - EPIDEMICS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952825680&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1071/WR10150

DO - 10.1071/WR10150

M3 - Article

SN - 1035-3712

VL - 38

SP - 112

JO - Wildlife research

JF - Wildlife research

IS - 1

ER -