Animals interact socially in diverse ways, with each interaction type contributing to ecological and evolutionary processes differently. When this is the case, using multilayer network representations to retain information on the multifaceted nature of a group’s social network can help draw accurate conclusions. One context in which this has been well explored theoretically is in the study of contagions. Here we examine how models of multilayer contagions can contribute to animal behaviour research. We provide an overview of key phenomena that can be modelled as a contagion, discuss when multilayer models provide added value and introduce key concepts with links to key theory from outside the animal behaviour literature. We use two illustrative case studies to demonstrate how these models can generate predictions for empirical research, identify their potential applied value and examine key challenges in better integrating modelling theory with empirical data. We aim to both (1) encourage animal behaviour researchers to consider the ecological and evolutionary implications of inherently multilayer contagion processes in animal groups and (2) highlight the value of existing network science theory in providing hypotheses to be tested with the types of social data already being collected in nonhuman animals. • Many contagions (e.g. infectious disease, information) affect animal groups. • Coupled contagions on different interaction types require multilayer network models. • We review key concepts and theory in multilayer models of contagions. • We highlight how multilayer contagion models can contribute to behavioural research.
Silk et al. (Fri,) studied this question.