Research

Research themes

Below are listed some of my main research topics, with links to relevant papers that I have been involved in.
(Note, some papers belong to more than one topic and therefore appear more than once).

The role of trait preferences in the emergence of social network structures

Social preferences for traits are behaviours where individuals prefer others with certain characteristics (age, sex, etc.) as social partners. Such preferences play an important role for social network structures, both in humans and non-human animals. To understand the emergence and consequences of social structures, is therefore important to understand how different trait-based social preferences affect network structure and function.

Consequences of trait preferences for social network structure and function: see this paper
An brief overview of trait preferences in animal social networks: see this paper
An R package for generating social networks based on trait preferences (and other node effects): See this paper

Generative network modelling for understanding social systems

Generative network models are algorithms that can create simulated networks structures. They constitute a key approach in the study of networks. We have developed generative network models to investigate various topics concerning social structures.

An introduction to generative network models and their use in studies of animal sociality: See this paper
An R package for generating social networks based on trait preferences (and other node effects): See this paper
A model investigating how social networks are affected by the aging of individuals: See this paper (lead by Erin Siracusa)

Strengthening the connection between behavioural ecology and
network science/complex systems

As a researcher working across different fields, I work for strengthening interdisciplinary connections and knowledge sharing.

An introduction to generative network models and their use in animal sociality research: See this paper
An introduction to animal social networks for researchers from complex systems and networks science: See this paper
A conference symposium on complexity in animal behaviour: see here

The evolution of cooperation in structured populations

How can cooperative behaviour evolve and survive? This question is of great scientific interest across disciplines, and social network structure plays an important role in answering it. We have investigated the evolution of cooperation in structured populations both with computer simulations and data from wild populations of guppies, a classic model species for social behaviour research.

How correlations between cooperativeness and social connectedness affect the survival of cooperation: See this paper
Evidence for social assortment by cooperativeness in an animal population: See this paper
The ‘walk-away’ strategy can maintain cooperative behaviour in an animal population: See this paper (lead by Safi Darden)

Network analysis methodology

See above for generative network modelling.

Comparative network analysis: see this paper (lead by Delphine De Moor)
Layers of latency - a conceptual framework for network analysis: see this paper (lead by Delphine De Moor)

Social structures and communication

Social relationships are closely intertwined with communication between individuals. The social networks approach provides new opportunities to study this connection.

Theme issue on how vocal communication is linked to social networks and collective behaviour: see the introduction here (lead by Elodie Briefer)
A review exploring how vocalizations shape group dynamics: See this paper (lead by Bing Xie)
Knowing friend from foe: recognition of nestmates in ants: See this paper (lead by Jelle van Zweden)

Temporal dynamics of social network structures

Social network stability and variation in giraffes: see this paper (lead by Steffen Prehn)

Social preferences and conflict over reproduction

Social preferences can reduce detrimental consequences of conflict over reproduction: see this paper