Collectively, these results provide some of the first empirical insights into the extent to which intragroup behavioral networks are mediated by intergroup interactions and the broader social context.Ĭonflict, which often manifests as aggression between group members, is an inherent part of social life in group-living species and can reduce the benefits of group living by increasing social stress, reducing group productivity and leading to group dissolution if left unresolved ( Aureli et al.

We found relatively little change in within-group affiliative networks across treatments, suggesting that the presence of neighbors does not alter behaviors associated with promoting group cohesion. Further, aggression and submission between similarly sized group members were most frequent when groups had neighbors, suggesting that neighbors induce rank-related conflict. This suggests that neighbors attenuate conflict between mates and foster conflict between dominants and subordinates. Aggression and submission between the dominant male and female pair were high in isolated groups, but dominant aggression was directly primarily at subordinates when groups had neighbors. To understand how neighbors mediate within-group conflict in the cooperatively breeding fish Neolamprologus pulcher, we measured behavioral dynamics and social network structure in isolated groups, groups recently exposed to neighbors, and groups with established neighbors. However, neighbors may also foster conflict of interests among group members: opportunities for subordinate dispersal may alter conflict among dominants and subordinates while opportunities for extra-pair reproduction may increase conflict between mates. Neighbors can threaten the territory or resources of the whole group, promoting behaviors that foster within-group cohesion. The frequency and resolution of within-group conflict may vary with the presence of neighboring groups. Group members may mediate conflict through submissive and affiliative behaviors, which can reduce aggression, stabilize dominance hierarchies, and foster group cohesion. Conflict is an inherent part of social life in group-living species.

Fminer change variable data