Abstract

Animal social relationships emerge from interactions in multiple ecological situations. However, we seldom ask how each situation contributes to the structure of a population or to the social position of individuals. Griffon vultures interact in multiple situations, including when roosting, flying, and feeding. These social interactions can influence population-level outcomes such as disease transmission and information sharing. We examined the contribution of each ecological situation to the social structure of the population and to individuals' social positions using GPS-tracking. We found that the number of individuals each vulture interacted with was best predicted by diurnal interactions. However, the strength of social bonds was best predicted by interactions on the ground -- both during the day and at night but not by interactions while flying. Thus, social situations differ in their impact on the relationships that individuals form. Given the conservation importance of vultures, these findings can inform wildlife management actions.