rsbl20170490_si_003.xlsx (42.22 kB)
ESM Dataset S2: Clustering Data from Primate social group sizes exhibit a regular scaling pattern with natural attractors
dataset
posted on 2018-01-04, 11:57 authored by R. I. M. Dunbar, Padraig Mac Carron, Susanne ShultzPrimate groups vary considerably in size across species. Nonetheless, the distribution of mean species group size has a regular scaling pattern with preferred sizes approximating 2.5, 5, 15, 30 and 50 individuals (although strepsirrhines lack the latter two), with a scaling ratio of approximately 2.5 similar to that observed in humans social networks. These clusters appear to form distinct social grades that are associated with rapid evolutionary change, presumably in response to intense environmental selection pressures. These findings may have wider implications for other highly social mammal taxa.