Long-term overlap of social and genetic structure in free-ranging house mice reveals dynamic seasonal and group size effects.

ABSTRACT: Associating with relatives in social groups can bring benefits such as reduced risk of aggression and increased likelihood of cooperation. Competition among relatives over limited resources, on the other hand, can induce individuals to alter their patterns of association. Population density might further affect the costs and benefits of associating with relatives by altering resource competition or by changing the structure of social groups; preventing easy association with relatives. Consequently, the overlap between genetic and social structure is expected to decrease with increasing population size, as well as during times of increased breeding activity. Here, we use multi-layer network techniques to quantify the similarity between long-term, high resolution genetic, and behavioral data

SUBMITTER: Evans JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7901755 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature