Data from: Fear of predation shapes social network structure and the acquisition of foraging information in guppy shoals

Spatio-temporal variation in predation risk is predicted to select for plastic anti-predator responses, which may in turn impact the fine-scale social structure of prey groups and processes mediated by that structure. To test these predictions, we manipulated the ambient predation risk experienced by Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) groups before quantifying their social networks and recording individual latencies to approach and solve a novel foraging task. High-risk conditions drove the formation of social networks that were more strongly assorted by body size than those exposed to low ambient risk and promoted longer durations of contact between preferred partners. Additionally, high background predation risk reduced the probability individuals would approach and solve a novel foraging task. Network-based diffusion analysis revealed that while social transmission of the task solution from knowledgeable to naive individuals occurred at a higher rate within low-risk groups, individuals in high-risk groups were particularly likely to investigate the task while shoaling with preferred social partners. Taken together, our results suggest that the structure and functional importance of prey social networks may partly depend on local predation pressure. Furthermore, by influencing individuals' access to information, fear of predation may impact decision-making in a potentially wide array of behavioural contexts.捕食风险的时空变异被认为会驱动猎物演化出具有可塑性的反捕食策略，而这类策略反过来可能会影响猎物群体的精细社会结构，以及由该结构所介导的各类生态过程。为验证上述预测，我们对特立尼达孔雀鱼（*Poecilia reticulata*）群体所经历的环境捕食风险进行了操控，随后量化其社会网络结构，并记录个体趋近并完成新型觅食任务的潜伏期。高风险环境下形成的社会网络，相较于低环境风险组，其个体间的体型聚类程度显著更高，且会延长偏好伴侣间的互动时长。此外，较高的背景捕食风险会降低个体趋近并完成新型觅食任务的概率。基于网络的扩散分析结果显示：尽管在低风险组中，具备任务解法的个体向未掌握任务解法的个体进行社会传递的频率更高，但高风险组中的个体在与偏好社交伙伴集群时，更倾向于对任务进行探索。综合来看，本研究结果表明，猎物社会网络的结构及其功能重要性可能部分依赖于当地的捕食压力。此外，捕食恐惧会通过影响个体的信息获取途径，进而在诸多行为场景中对其决策过程产生影响。