scholarly journals Proximity patterns in water buffaloes' activities on pasture

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29
Author(s):  
Eleni T. Tsiobani ◽  
Maria D. Yiakoulaki ◽  
Nikolaos D. Hasanagas ◽  
Ioannis E. Antoniou

Abstract. Water buffaloes are considered social animals and perform several activities on pasture, such as grazing, moving, standing, ruminating, wallowing, lying, and drinking. However, the way these animals form their social structure in the herd during each one of these activities is still unknown. Literature for water buffaloes has focused mainly on their productive characteristics, impact of grazing on wetlands and behavior during grazing but failed to address the way these animals form their social organization during their activities on pasture. In this study, the tools of social network analysis are used to analyze, detect, and depict the proximity patterns in water buffaloes' activities on pasture and the effect of their age and gender on them. We describe and interpret a series of global and local network indices, and show that the water buffaloes differentiate their social structure in their activities on pasture and that the animals' age and gender affect their interacting patterns, and provide a framework for the application of social network analysis on grazing animals' social behavioral studies. We expect that this framework could be used in future research to provide information regarding the social structure of other kinds of animals that graze in different forage and climatic environments and help animal breeders to improve their management practices.

The traditional research approaches common in different disciplines of social sciences centered around one half of the social realm: the actors. The other half are the relations established by these actors and forming the basis of “social.” The social structure shaped by these relations, the position of the actor within this structure, and the impact of this position on the actor are mostly excluded by the traditional research methods. In this chapter, the authors introduce social network analysis and how it complements the other methods.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 282-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raiko Krauß ◽  
Clemens Schmid ◽  
David Kirschenheuter ◽  
Jonas Abele ◽  
Vladimir Slavchev ◽  
...  

In the following paper, we present the main results of our now completed studies of the Varna I cemetery, based on the excavations undertaken by Ivan Ivanov in the years 1972–1991. The richness of the assemblages is singular in Old World prehistory. To tackle the question of its inter­nal, chronological development, we applied correspondence analysis (CA) to a newly created database that includes the inventories of all presently known graves, symbolic burials and find de­posits. The rank order of the seriated inventories was used to establish a CA-based 14C-age model for wiggle matching. In combination with topographic observations and social network analysis (SNA), our studies provide a new understanding both of the chronological and spatial distribution of the graves and burial goods, as well as new insights into the social structure, gender roles, individual relation­ships and ritual practices of the Chalcolithic community.


Author(s):  
Tom Arthurs

This paper uses approaches from ethnography and Social Network Analysis to provide a brief insight into the practical, economic and social structure of Berlin’s Improvised Music scene during 2012 and 2013. The findings presented here address imbalances of gender and race, and highlight the (often difficult) financial reality of a life in Improvised Music. Audience, venues and performers are portrayed in order to provide an entry point for those unfamiliar with Improvised Music communities, and to offer an empirically researched point of departure for those already acquainted with such musicians and practices. This paper is an adaptation of parts of my PhD thesis “The Secret Gardeners: An Ethnography of Improvised Music in Berlin (2012-13),” which addresses the aesthetics, ideologies and practicalities of contemporary European Improvised Music-making from the point of view of 34 key practitioners and “expert” listeners.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Marqués-Sánchez ◽  
Arrate Pinto-Carral ◽  
Tania Fernández-Villa ◽  
Ana Vázquez-Casares ◽  
Cristina Liébana-Presa ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aims: (i) analyze connectivity between subgroups of university students, (ii) assess which bridges of relational contacts are essential for connecting or disconnecting subgroups and (iii) to explore the similarities between the attributes of the subgroup nodes in relation to the pandemic context. During the COVID-19 pandemic, young university students have experienced significant changes in their relationships, especially in the halls of residence. Previous research has shown the importance of relationship structure in contagion processes. However, there is a lack of studies in the university setting, where students live closely together. The case study methodology was applied to carry out a descriptive study. The participation consisted of 43 university students living in the same hall of residence. Social network analysis has been applied for data analysis. Factions and Girvan–Newman algorithms have been applied to detect the existing cohesive subgroups. The UCINET tool was used for the calculation of the SNA measure. A visualization of the global network will be carried out using Gephi software. After applying the Girvan–Newman and Factions, in both cases it was found that the best division into subgroups was the one that divided the network into 4 subgroups. There is high degree of cohesion within the subgroups and a low cohesion between them. The relationship between subgroup membership and gender was significant. The degree of COVID-19 infection is related to the degree of clustering between the students. College students form subgroups in their residence. Social network analysis facilitates an understanding of structural behavior during the pandemic. The study provides evidence on the importance of gender, race and the building where they live in creating network structures that favor, or not, contagion during a pandemic.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e83015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Bret ◽  
Cédric Sueur ◽  
Barthélémy Ngoubangoye ◽  
Delphine Verrier ◽  
Jean-Louis Deneubourg ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Yousefi Nooraie ◽  
Joanna E. M. Sale ◽  
Alexandra Marin ◽  
Lori E. Ross

A quantitative approach to social network analysis involves the application of mathematical and statistical techniques and graphical presentation of results. Nonetheless—as with all sciences—subjectivity is an integral aspect of network analysis, manifested in the selection of measures to describe connection patterns and actors’ positions (e.g., choosing a centrality indicator), in the visualization of social structure in graphs, and in translating numbers into words (telling the story). Here, we use network research as an example to illustrate how quantitative and qualitative approaches, techniques, and data are mixed along a continuum of fusion between quantitative and qualitative realms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (S2) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Purington ◽  
Erica Stupp ◽  
Dora Welker ◽  
Jane Powers ◽  
Mousumi Banikya-Leaseburg

Abstract Introduction Expectant and parenting young people (young parents) need a range of supports but may have difficulty accessing existing resources. An optimally connected network of organizations can help young parents navigate access to available services. Community organizations participating in the Pathways to Success (Pathways) initiative sought to strengthen their network of support for young parents through social network analysis (SNA) undertaken within an action research framework. Method Evaluators and community partners utilized a survey and analysis tool to map and describe the local network of service providers offering resources to young parents. Respondents were asked to characterize their relationship with all other organizations in the network. Following survey analysis, all participants were invited to discuss and interpret the results and plan the next actions to improve the network on behalf of young parents. Results Scores described the diversity of organizations in the network, density of connections across the community, degree to which the network was centralized or decentralized, which organizations were central or outliers, frequency of contact, levels of collaboration, and levels of trust. Findings were interpreted with survey participants and used by Pathways staff for action planning to improve their network. Discussion SNA clarified complex relationships and set service providers on a path toward optimizing their network. The usefulness of SNA to impact and improve a network approach to supporting young parents is discussed, including lessons learned from this project.


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