Hierarchical development of dominance through the winner-loser effect and socio-spatial structure

Abstract

In many groups of animals the dominance hierarchy is linear. What mechanisms underlie this linearity of the dominance hierarchy is under debate. Linearity is often attributed to cognitively sophisticated processes, such as transitive inference and eavesdropping. An alternative explanation is that it develops via the winner-loser effect. This effect implies that after a fight has been decided the winner is more likely to win again, and the loser is more likely to lose again. Although it has been shown that dominance hierarchies may develop via the winner-loser effect, the degree of linearity of such hierarchies is unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether a similar degree of linearity, like in real animals, may emerge as a consequence of the winner-loser effect and the socio-spatial structure of group members. For this purpose, we use the model DomWorld, in which agents group and compete and the outcome of conflicts are self-reinforcing. Here dominance hierarchies are shown to emerge. In the model, we apply analytical methods previously used in a study on dominance in real hens including an analysis of behaviourial dynamics and network triad motifs. We show that when in the complete model one parameter, representing the intensity of aggression, was set high, the model reproduced the high linearity and many patterns of hierarchical development typical of groups of hens. Yet, when omitting from the model the winner-loser effect or spatial location of individuals, this resemblance decreased markedly. Our results demonstrate that the spatial structure and the winner-loser effect provide a plausible alternative for hierarchical linearity to processes that are cognitively more sophisticated. Further research should determine whether the winner-loser effect and spatial structure of group members also explains the characteristics of hierarchical development in other species.