Hyenas Seek “Closure”
Link: http://www.futurity.org/hyenas-social-networks-922882/
When thinking about social networks, we usually think about Facebook, research paper collaboration, or some other form of connections between human social groups. However, humans are not the only beings dictated by social bonds or norms; animals, such as the hyena, are also dictated by these same rules. The Futurity article mentions that according to a 20-year study with over 55,000 observations, hyenas are similar to humans in tending to form bonds within their clan if they are friends of friends. The aforementioned observations convey that hyenas are selective with whom they form a social bond, and they create these bonds in order to create “cohesive clusters [that] can facilitate efficient cooperation and maximize fitness.” The ability for hyenas to exploit the strength of weak ties and triadic closures is quite unique.
In class and in the suggested reading, we discussed Strong Triadic Closure Theory, the strength of weak ties, and network balance. We discussed how an individual usually gains, for example, job interviews, through a friend of a friend, and hyenas exploit these sociological concepts as well. Hyenas understand that a well-organized group, in this a case, a clan, can become more efficient through clusters because cooperation yields more optimal hunts.
More interestingly, hyenas, and particularly female hyenas, tend to disregard social norms determined by rank, or even environmental factors. Therefore, they continue to foster bonds within their already established social constructs. The University of Pennsylvania study demonstrates that social network dynamics in wild animals still follow the rules set by sociological and network theories.