Comparing different ways of horizontal information transmission on cooperation Dynamics over different social networks

An Agent Based Model was used to explore the effects of spatial social networks and of different means of horizontal information transmission over cooperation when groups provide protection against predation. We tested two ways to calculate transition probabilities governing the information diffusion of the majority’s opinion: using fixed rates and using a rate proportional to group’ sizes. Our results show that spatial structures affect the cooperation dynamics. Particularly in Small World Networks, cooperation is more sensible to information transmission. The type of horizontal information transmission is less important as long as over 50% of individuals follow the majority rule.