General prediction
Prediction associated with Ideal Free Distribution
Prediction associated with Optimal Foraging Theory
P1: Density-dependent social strength. As density increases, individuals are expected to increase their social network strength. P1a: No directional prediction. P1b: No directional prediction.
P2: Density-dependent habitat specialization. P2a: As density increases, individuals are expected to become habitat specialists (Fortin et al. 2008). P2b: As density increases, individuals are expected to become habitat generalists (Pyke et al. 1977).
P3: Phenotypic covariance between social strength and habitat specialization (Webber & Vander Wal 2018). P3a: More social individuals are expected to be habitat generalists. P3b: More social individuals are expected to be habitat specialists.
P4: Repeatability of social strength and habitat specialization, such that behavioural traits are expected to be consistent through space and time (Bell et al. 2009). P4a: Ideal Free Distribution is agnostic to the identity of individuals. P4b: Within the framework of Optimal Foraging Theory and behavioural ecology theory, individual behaviours are expected to be consistent through space and time.
P5: Adaptive value of density-dependent social strength (Webber & Vander Wal 2018).
P5a: Low density: higher fitness for more social individuals High density: higher fitness for less social individuals
P5b: No directional predictions.
P6: Adaptive value of density-dependent habitat specialization.
P6a: Low density: higher fitness for habitat specialists High density: higher fitness for habitat generalists (McLoughlin et al. 2006; Fortin et al. 2008). P6b: Low density: higher fitness for habitat generalists High density: higher fitness for habitat specialists Tinker et al. (2008).