Individual differences in coping styles and associations with social structure in wild baboons (Papio anubis)

The patterning of interactions between individuals over time form the
foundation for relationships, which are the basis for social group
structure. The emergent social structure scaling from interactions might,
therefore, be influenced by individual differences in how individuals
respond to stressors and uncertainty, which are often intrinsic aspects of
social dynamics. During a 17-month study of wild olive baboons, Papio
anubis, in Laikipia, Kenya, we measured individual differences in coping
style and stress reactivity by experimentally presenting a stressor with
multiple solutions. We measured individual differences in sociality
through focal animal and ad libitum sampling that recorded grooming,
aggression, proximity, and social displacements. We examined whether
experimental measures of coping style and stress reactivity (1) are linked
to social network assortativity, (2) predict network position and (3)
covary with social dominance rank. Homophily was observed for coping
styles in a strong proximity network but not when weak associations were
included in the analysis. Coping style scores did not predict social
network strength or degree. Partner stability indices of proximity
associations and social dominance rank did not covary with coping style
measures. Static summative network structures may obfuscate investigative
inquiries into the role of individual differences and, also, may constrain
or facilitate the behavioural expression of such differences. Thus, we
should prioritize more fine-grain investigative approaches inclusive of
variation in situation, context and consistency of group structure.