The underlying kin structure of groups of animals may be glimpsed from patterns of spatial position or temporal as- sociation between individuals, and is presumed to facilitate inclusive fitness benefits. Such structu...The underlying kin structure of groups of animals may be glimpsed from patterns of spatial position or temporal as- sociation between individuals, and is presumed to facilitate inclusive fitness benefits. Such structure may be evident at a finer, behavioural, scale with individuals preferentially interacting with kin. We tested whether kin structure within groups of meerkats Suricata suricatta matched three forms of social interaction networks： grooming, dominance or foraging competitions. Networks of dominance interactions were positively related to networks of kinship, with close relatives engaging in dominance interactions with each other. This relationship persisted even after excluding the breeding dominant pair and when we restricted the kinship network to only include links between first order kin, which are most likely to be able to discern kin through simple rules of thumb. Conversely, we found no relationship between kinship networks and either grooming networks or networks of foraging competitions. This is surprising because a positive association between kin in a grooming network, or a negative association be- tween kin in a network of foraging competitions offers opportunities for inclusive fitness benefits. Indeed, the positive association between kin in a network of dominance interactions that we did detect does not offer clear inclusive fitness benefits to group members. We conclude that kin structure in behavioural interactions in meerkats may be driven by factors other than indirect fit- ness benefits, and that networks of cooperative behaviours such as grooming may be driven by direct benefits accruing to indi- viduals perhaps through mutualism or manipulation展开更多
A predominant benefit of social living is the ability to share knowledge that cannot be gained through the information an individual accumulates based on its personal experience alone. Traditional computational models...A predominant benefit of social living is the ability to share knowledge that cannot be gained through the information an individual accumulates based on its personal experience alone. Traditional computational models have portrayed sharing knowledge through interactions among members of social groups via dyadic networks. Such models aim at understanding the percolation of information among individuals and groups to identify potential limitations to successful knowledge transfer. How- ever, because many real-world interactions are not solely pairwise, i.e., several group members may obtain information from one another simultaneously, it is necessary to understand more than dyadic communication and learning processes to capture their full complexity. We detail a modeling framework based on the simplicial set, a concept from algebraic topology, which allows elegant encapsulation of multi-agent interactions. Such a model system allows us to analyze how individual information within groups accumulates as the group＇s collective set of knowledge, which may be different than the simple union of individually contained information. Furthermore, the simplicial modeling approach we propose allows us to investigate how information accumulates via sub-group interactions, offering insight into complex aspects of multi-way communication systems. The fundamental change in modeling strategy we offer here allows us to move from portraying knowledge as a ＂token＂, passed from signaler to receiver, to portraying knowledge as a set of accumulating building blocks from which novel ideas can emerge. We provide an explanation of relevant mathematical concepts in a way that promotes accessibility to a general audience [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 114--127, 2015].展开更多
Intergroup conflicts occupy a special place in the interaction of social groups and of necessity form the basic building blocks for the integration of previously fragmented groups. The Western Niger delta obviously ha...Intergroup conflicts occupy a special place in the interaction of social groups and of necessity form the basic building blocks for the integration of previously fragmented groups. The Western Niger delta obviously has since been a theatre of socio-political conflicts. Viewed from the contemporary clime, there is a lacuna in the formulation of theories and concepts in understanding and explaining the nature and pattern of intergroup relations in the region from the pre-colonial period. This work therefore attempts an exploratory analysis of some theories and concepts of intergroup relations in the Western Niger Delta of Nigeria using the historical approach with the use of secondary source materials. The paper concludes that the relation among the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria, especially the Western Niger Delta, may not have been as intense, or as hostile as it has become since the attainment of independence in 1960. This paper no doubt is essential for the understanding and tackling of the problem of intergroup relations and conflict in the region in particular and Nigeria at large.展开更多
文摘The underlying kin structure of groups of animals may be glimpsed from patterns of spatial position or temporal as- sociation between individuals, and is presumed to facilitate inclusive fitness benefits. Such structure may be evident at a finer, behavioural, scale with individuals preferentially interacting with kin. We tested whether kin structure within groups of meerkats Suricata suricatta matched three forms of social interaction networks： grooming, dominance or foraging competitions. Networks of dominance interactions were positively related to networks of kinship, with close relatives engaging in dominance interactions with each other. This relationship persisted even after excluding the breeding dominant pair and when we restricted the kinship network to only include links between first order kin, which are most likely to be able to discern kin through simple rules of thumb. Conversely, we found no relationship between kinship networks and either grooming networks or networks of foraging competitions. This is surprising because a positive association between kin in a grooming network, or a negative association be- tween kin in a network of foraging competitions offers opportunities for inclusive fitness benefits. Indeed, the positive association between kin in a network of dominance interactions that we did detect does not offer clear inclusive fitness benefits to group members. We conclude that kin structure in behavioural interactions in meerkats may be driven by factors other than indirect fit- ness benefits, and that networks of cooperative behaviours such as grooming may be driven by direct benefits accruing to indi- viduals perhaps through mutualism or manipulation
文摘A predominant benefit of social living is the ability to share knowledge that cannot be gained through the information an individual accumulates based on its personal experience alone. Traditional computational models have portrayed sharing knowledge through interactions among members of social groups via dyadic networks. Such models aim at understanding the percolation of information among individuals and groups to identify potential limitations to successful knowledge transfer. How- ever, because many real-world interactions are not solely pairwise, i.e., several group members may obtain information from one another simultaneously, it is necessary to understand more than dyadic communication and learning processes to capture their full complexity. We detail a modeling framework based on the simplicial set, a concept from algebraic topology, which allows elegant encapsulation of multi-agent interactions. Such a model system allows us to analyze how individual information within groups accumulates as the group＇s collective set of knowledge, which may be different than the simple union of individually contained information. Furthermore, the simplicial modeling approach we propose allows us to investigate how information accumulates via sub-group interactions, offering insight into complex aspects of multi-way communication systems. The fundamental change in modeling strategy we offer here allows us to move from portraying knowledge as a ＂token＂, passed from signaler to receiver, to portraying knowledge as a set of accumulating building blocks from which novel ideas can emerge. We provide an explanation of relevant mathematical concepts in a way that promotes accessibility to a general audience [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 114--127, 2015].
文摘Intergroup conflicts occupy a special place in the interaction of social groups and of necessity form the basic building blocks for the integration of previously fragmented groups. The Western Niger delta obviously has since been a theatre of socio-political conflicts. Viewed from the contemporary clime, there is a lacuna in the formulation of theories and concepts in understanding and explaining the nature and pattern of intergroup relations in the region from the pre-colonial period. This work therefore attempts an exploratory analysis of some theories and concepts of intergroup relations in the Western Niger Delta of Nigeria using the historical approach with the use of secondary source materials. The paper concludes that the relation among the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria, especially the Western Niger Delta, may not have been as intense, or as hostile as it has become since the attainment of independence in 1960. This paper no doubt is essential for the understanding and tackling of the problem of intergroup relations and conflict in the region in particular and Nigeria at large.
