Wild jackdaws can selectively adjust their social associations while preserving valuable long-term relationships

Michael Kings (), Josh J. Arbon (), Guillam E. McIvor, Martin Whitaker, Andrew N. Radford, Jürgen Lerner and Alex Thornton ()
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Michael Kings: University of Exeter
Josh J. Arbon: University of Exeter
Guillam E. McIvor: University of Exeter
Martin Whitaker: technologywithin
Andrew N. Radford: University of Bristol
Jürgen Lerner: University of Konstanz
Alex Thornton: University of Exeter

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Influential theories of the evolution of cognition and cooperation posit that tracking information about others allows individuals to adjust their social associations strategically, re-shaping social networks to favour connections between compatible partners. Crucially, to our knowledge, this has yet to be tested experimentally in natural populations, where the need to maintain long-term, fitness-enhancing relationships may limit social plasticity. Using a social-network-manipulation experiment, we show that wild jackdaws (Corvus monedula) learned to favour social associations with compatible group members (individuals that provided greater returns from social foraging interactions), but resultant change in network structure was constrained by the preservation of valuable pre-existing relationships. Our findings provide insights into the cognitive basis of social plasticity and the interplay between individual decision-making and social-network structure.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40808-7

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