DomArchive

DomArchive aggregates historical dominance interaction datasets to enable comparative analyses of dominance hierarchies across animal species.

Key Features:

• Dataset scope: The R package aggregates 436 datasets from 190 studies representing 367 unique groups across 135 species with over 243,000 recorded interactions, mean group size ~13.8 (SD 13.4).
• Metadata inclusion: Each dataset includes accompanying metadata that provides contextual information for analyses.
• Subsetting functions: The package provides functions to subset datasets by biological or methodological criteria.
• Centralized historical data: The archive consolidates dominance interaction records collected since 1922 to support cross-study and cross-species comparisons.

Scientific Applications:

• Comparative analyses of social structure: Enables empirical comparisons of dominance structure and dynamics across species and over time.
• Theory development and testing: Supports empirical testing and validation of general theories of dominance hierarchies in behavioral ecology.
• Interdisciplinary research: Facilitates studies integrating behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and sociobiology using historical interaction data.

Methodology:

Compilation of 436 datasets with accompanying metadata from 190 studies (367 groups, 135 species, >243,000 interactions) and distribution as an R package providing subsetting functions.