Table 1 Summary of different network types, describing the type of information flowing along edges and the consequences for weight transformation.

From: Ecological networks: Pursuing the shortest path, however narrow and crooked

Network type

Edge weight

Proportionality to information flow

Requires transformation

Example references

Landscape

Cost-distance

Inverse

No

11,20

 

Dispersal probability

Direct

Yes

10,44

 

Dispersal time

Inverse

No

12

 

Exchange of individuals

Direct

Yes

45

 

Genetic similarity

Direct

Yes

46,47

Interaction

Frequencies

Direct

Yes

48,49

 

Shared traits, affinity

Direct

Yes

50,51

 

Trophic (or energy) flow

Direct

Yes

52,53

  1. Landscape networks are spatially-explicit, while interaction networks depict relationships among entities. Social networks are here included as interaction networks, where shared traits include shared interacting organisms, foraging time, etc. depicting social relationships or common characteristics.
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