Network analysis has driven key developments in animal behavior research by providing quantitative methods to study the social structures of animal groups and populations. A recent advancement in network science,multilayer network analysis , the study of network structures of multiple interconnected 'layers' and associated dynamical processes, offers a novel way to represent and analyze animal behavior. It also helps strengthen the links between animal social behavior and broader ecological and evolutionary contexts and processes. In this article, we describe how to encode animal behavior data as different types of multilayer networks, and we link recently-developed multilayer methods to individual-, group-, population-, and evolutionary-level questions in behavioral ecology. We outline a variety of examples for how to apply multilayer methods in behavioral ecology research, including examples that demonstrate how taking a multilayer approach can alter inferences about social structure and the positions of individuals within such a structure. These new insights have consequences for ecological processes such as disease transmission. We also discuss caveats to undertaking multilayer network analysis in the study of animal social networks, and we outline methodological challenges for the application of these approaches. Multilayer network analysis offers a promising approach for tackling classical research questions from a new perspective, and it opens a plethora of new questions that have thus far been out of reach .
Network analysis has driven key developments in animal behaviour research by providing quantitative methods to study the social structures of animal groups and populations. A recent formalism, known as multilayer network analysis, has advanced the study of multifaceted networked systems and offers a novel way to represent and analyse animal behaviour as connected `layers' of interactions. In this article, we outline the types of behavioural data and questions that may be suitable to study using multilayer network analysis. We detail several multilayer methods, which can provide new insights into questions about animal sociality at the individual-, group-, population-, and evolutionary-levels. We give examples for how to implement multilayer methods to demonstrate how taking a multilayer approach can alter inferences about social structure and the positions of individuals within such a structure. Finally, we discuss caveats to undertaking multilayer network analysis in the study of animal social networks, and we call attention to methodological challenges for the application of these approaches. Our aim is to instigate the study of new questions about animal sociality using the new toolbox of multilayer network analysis .
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behavior
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advancement in network science,
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multilayer network analysis
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formalism, known as multilayer network analysis, has advanced
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network structures of multiple interconnected 'layers' and associated dynamical processes,
multifaceted networked systems and
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analyze animal behavior. It also helps strengthen the links between animal social behavior and broader ecological and evolutionary contexts and processes.
analyse animal behaviour as connected `layers' of interactions.
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describe how to encode animal behavior data as different types of multilayer networks, and we link recently-developed multilayer methods to
outline the types of behavioural data and questions that may be suitable to study using multilayer network analysis. We detail several multilayer methods, which can provide new insights into questions about animal sociality at the
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evolutionary-level questions in behavioral ecology. We outline a variety of
evolutionary-levels. We give
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apply multilayer methods in behavioral ecology research, including examples that
implement multilayer methods to
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These new insights have consequences for ecological processes such as disease transmission. We also
Finally, we
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outline
call attention to
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Multilayer network analysis offers a promising approach for tackling classical research questions from a new perspective, and it opens a plethora
Our aim is to instigate the study
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that have thus far been out of reach
about animal sociality using the new toolbox of multilayer network analysis