Data from: Stress response, gut microbial diversity, and sexual signals correlate with social interactions

Theory predicts that social interactions are dynamically linked to phenotype. Yet because social interactions are difficult to quantify, little is known about the precise details on how interactivity is linked to phenotype. Here, we deployed proximity loggers on North American barn swallows (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) to examine intercorrelations among social interactions, morphology and features of the phenotype that are sensitive to the social context: stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) and gut microbial diversity. We analysed relationships at two spatial scales of interaction: (i) body contact and (ii) social interactions occurring between 0.1 and 5 m. Network analysis revealed that relationships between social interactions, morphology, CORT and gut microbial diversity varied depending on the sexes of the individuals interacting and the spatial scale of interaction proximity. We found evidence that body contact interactions were related to diversity of socially transmitted microbes and that looser social interactions were related to signalling traits and CORT.

理论研究表明，社会互动与表型之间存在动态关联。然而由于社会互动难以量化，学界对于互动性与表型之间关联的具体细节仍知之甚少。本研究通过在北美家燕（Hirundo rustica erythrogaster）身上部署近距记录器（proximity loggers），探究了社会互动、形态学特征以及受社会环境影响的表型特征之间的相互关联：这些特征包括应激诱导型皮质酮（CORT）与肠道微生物多样性。我们从两种互动空间尺度开展关联分析：(i) 身体接触式互动；(ii) 发生于0.1至5米范围内的社会互动。网络分析结果显示，社会互动、形态学特征、CORT与肠道微生物多样性之间的关联，会因互动个体的性别以及互动距离的空间尺度而产生差异。本研究发现，身体接触式互动与社会传播型微生物的多样性存在关联，而松散型社会互动则与信号传递性状及CORT相关。