TY - JOUR
T1 - Social networks predict selective observation and information spread in ravens
AU - Kulahci, Ipek G.
AU - Rubenstein, Daniel Ian
AU - Bugnyar, Thomas
AU - Hoppitt, William
AU - Mikus, Nace
AU - Schwab, Christine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
PY - 2016/7/13
Y1 - 2016/7/13
N2 - Animals are predicted to selectively observe and learn from the conspecifics with whom they share social connections. Yet, hardly anything is known about the role of different connections in observation and learning. To address the relationships between social connections, observation and learning, we investigated transmission of information in two raven (Corvus corax) groups. First, we quantified social connections in each group by constructing networks on affiliative interactions, aggressive interactions and proximity. We then seeded novel information by training one group member on a novel task and allowing others to observe. In each group, an observation network based on who observed whose task-solving behaviour was strongly correlated with networks based on affiliative interactions and proximity. Ravens with high social centrality (strength, eigenvector, information centrality) in the affiliative interaction network were also central in the observation network, possibly as a result of solving the task sooner. Network-based diffusion analysis revealed that the order that ravens first solved the task was best predicted by connections in the affiliative interaction network in a group of subadult ravens, and by social rank and kinship (which influenced affiliative interactions) in a group of juvenile ravens. Our results demonstrate that not all social connections are equally effective at predicting the patterns of selective observation and information transmission.
AB - Animals are predicted to selectively observe and learn from the conspecifics with whom they share social connections. Yet, hardly anything is known about the role of different connections in observation and learning. To address the relationships between social connections, observation and learning, we investigated transmission of information in two raven (Corvus corax) groups. First, we quantified social connections in each group by constructing networks on affiliative interactions, aggressive interactions and proximity. We then seeded novel information by training one group member on a novel task and allowing others to observe. In each group, an observation network based on who observed whose task-solving behaviour was strongly correlated with networks based on affiliative interactions and proximity. Ravens with high social centrality (strength, eigenvector, information centrality) in the affiliative interaction network were also central in the observation network, possibly as a result of solving the task sooner. Network-based diffusion analysis revealed that the order that ravens first solved the task was best predicted by connections in the affiliative interaction network in a group of subadult ravens, and by social rank and kinship (which influenced affiliative interactions) in a group of juvenile ravens. Our results demonstrate that not all social connections are equally effective at predicting the patterns of selective observation and information transmission.
KW - Corvus corax
KW - Information transmission
KW - Network-based diffusion analysis
KW - Observation networks
KW - Order of acquisition diffusion analysis
KW - Social networks
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U2 - 10.1098/rsos.160256
DO - 10.1098/rsos.160256
M3 - Article
C2 - 27493780
AN - SCOPUS:84978429741
SN - 2054-5703
VL - 3
JO - Royal Society Open Science
JF - Royal Society Open Science
IS - 7
ER -