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Multilevel Selection On Social Network Traits Differs Between Sexes In Experimental Populations Of Forked Fungus Beetles, R. A. Costello, P. A. Cook, E. D. Brodie Iii, Vincent A. Formica

Biology Faculty Works

Both individual and group behavior can influence individual fitness, but multilevel selection is rarely quantified on social behaviors. Social networks provide a unique opportunity to study multilevel selection on social behaviors, as they describe complex social traits and patterns of interaction at both the individual and group levels. In this study, we used contextual analysis to measure the consequences of both individual network position and group network structure on individual fitness in experimental populations of forked fungus beetles (Bolitotherus cornutus) with two different resource distributions. We found that males with high individual connectivity (strength) and centrality (betweenness) had …