The effects of data collection and observation methods on uncertainty of social networks in wild primates. Issue 7 (20th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Canteloup, Charlotte; Puga‐Gonzalez, Ivan; Sueur, Cédric; van de Waal, Erica
• Is Part Of: American journal of primatology. Volume 82:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-04-20
• Subjects: ad libitum sampling -- focal animal sampling -- interaction -- social network analysis -- vervet monkeys; Primates -- Periodicals; Primates -- Périodiques; 599.8
• DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-2565

Abstract

Abstract: In social species, network centralities of group members shape social transmission and other social phenomena. Different factors have been found to influence the measurement of social networks, such as data collection and observation methods. In this study, we collected data on adults and juveniles and examined the effect of data collection method (ad libitum sampling vs. focal animal sampling) and observation method (interaction—grooming; play—vs. association—arm‐length; 2 m; 5 m proximities—) on social networks in wild vervet monkeys. First, we showed using a bootstrapping method, that uncertainty of ad libitum grooming and play matrices were lesser than uncertainty of focal matrices. Nevertheless, grooming and play networks constructed from ad libitum and focal animal sampling were very similar and highly correlated. We improved the certainty of both grooming and play networks by pooling focal and ad libitum matrices. Second, we reported a high correlation between the proximity arm‐length network and the focal grooming one making an arm‐length proximity network a reasonable proxy for a grooming one in vervet monkeys. However, we did not find such a correlation between proximity networks and the play one. Studying the effects of methodological issues as data collection and observation methods can help improve understanding of what shapes social networks and which data collection method to choose to study sociality. Abstract : Uncertainty values of pooled grooming focal + ad libitum matrices in the function of the proportion of data subsample. HIGHLIGHTS: We compared social networks constructed through different data collection and observation methods in a wild primate species. We found that ad libitum networks were less uncertain than focal networks. Arm‐length proximity network can be used as a proxy for a grooming network but not for a play one.