Data from: Ecological divergence among colour morphs mediated by changes in spatial network structure associated with disturbance

1. Differences in individual behaviour affect social interactions and contribute to the spatial structuring of animal populations. However, disturbance should also affect spatial networks by altering habitat heterogeneity and resource availability. Variation in resource availability should perturb the frequency and nature of social and ecological interactions within a population by affecting the spatial distribution of individuals. 2. In disturbed habitats where resources are limiting, spatial relationships should reflect behavioural differences among individuals, with higher-quality resources controlled by dominant individuals. In contrast, all individuals may exploit preferred resources in resource-rich habitats. Environmental variation and population reorganisation may also result in variation in morphological, behavioural, and ecological traits, which ultimately affect fitness. 3. We addressed these considerations for male tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus) at three sites that differ in levels of disturbance. The habitats at these localities differed in the availability of live trees, the preferred microhabitat of U. ornatus. In addition, male U. ornatus exhibit a polymorphism in dewlap colour linked with differences in aggression, which should influence their position in a network and access to resources. We applied a network framework to characterise the spatial organisation of male morphs at each site and quantified male aggressive behaviour in the laboratory. We also compared body size, body condition, number of bite marks, parasite load, and the microhabitat use and diet, of males among the sites. 4. We detected no significant differences in spatial network structure between unburned and infrequently burned sites. However, at a frequently-burned site, the network shifted towards geographically closer, heteromorphic male neighbour associations. Males at this site were also larger, more aggressive, and had more bite marks but fewer parasites than males at the other sites. Moreover, we detected divergence in microhabitat use and diet among the morphs at the frequently-burned site that reflected the shift in spatial network structure and differences in morph behaviour. That is, only more-aggressive morphs usurped trees and consumed prey from higher trophic levels. 5. We conclude that environmental variation may influence animal spatial network structure. Jointly, behavioural and environmental variation may promote despotic social dynamics and ecological divergence in resource-limited habitats.

1. 个体行为差异会影响社会互动，并推动动物种群的空间结构（spatial structuring）形成。然而，干扰也可通过改变生境异质性（habitat heterogeneity）与资源可获得性（resource availability），对空间网络（spatial networks）产生影响。资源可获得性的变化，会通过改变个体的空间分布，扰动种群内社会与生态互动的频率与本质。
2. 在资源受限的受干扰生境中，空间关系应能反映个体间的行为差异：优质资源多由优势个体掌控。与之相反，在资源富足的生境中，所有个体均可利用偏好性资源。环境变化与种群重组还可能导致形态、行为及生态性状出现变异，最终影响个体适合度（fitness）。
3. 本研究针对三个受干扰程度各异的生境中的雄性饰纹卷尾蜥（Urosaurus ornatus）开展了相关研究。这些样地的生境差异体现在作为该物种偏好微生境（microhabitat）的活树资源可获得性上。此外，雄性饰纹卷尾蜥的喉扇（dewlap）颜色存在多态性（polymorphism），且该多态性与攻击行为（aggressive behaviour）差异相关，进而会影响其在社交网络中的位置与资源获取能力。我们采用网络分析框架（network framework），对每个样地内雄性形态型（male morphs）的空间组织特征进行了刻画，并在实验室中量化了雄性的攻击行为。此外，我们还比较了不同样地雄性个体的体型（body size）、身体状况（body condition）、咬痕（bite marks）数量、寄生虫负荷（parasite load）、微生境利用情况与食性（diet）。
4. 我们未在未受火烧与低频火烧样地间检测到空间网络结构的显著差异。但在高频火烧样地中，空间网络向地理距离更近的异质形态型雄性邻居关联方向偏移。该样地的雄性个体体型更大、攻击性更强，咬痕数量更多，但寄生虫负荷低于其他样地的雄性。此外，我们在高频火烧样地中检测到不同形态型个体在微生境利用与食性上出现分化，这一分化与空间网络结构的偏移以及不同形态型的行为差异相契合。换言之，仅攻击性更强的形态型能够抢占树木资源，并取食更高营养级（trophic levels）的猎物。
5. 我们据此得出结论：环境变化可影响动物的空间网络结构。行为与环境的共同变异，或许会在资源受限的生境中推动专制型社会动态（despotic social dynamics）的形成与生态分化（ecological divergence）。