Reciprocation and interchange of grooming, agonistic support, feeding tolerance, and aggression in semi-free-ranging Barbary macaques

2011 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 1127-1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Carne ◽  
Sue Wiper ◽  
Stuart Semple
Keyword(s):  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Feeding Tolerance ◽  
Agonistic Support

Coalitions destabilize dyadic dominance relationships in male Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Behaviour ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 148 (11-13) ◽  
pp. 1256-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Berghänel ◽  
Julia Ostner ◽  
Oliver Schülke
Keyword(s):  
Observational Data ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Dominance Relationships ◽  
Power Asymmetries ◽  
Relationship Instability ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Agonistic Support

Abstract Dyadic agonistic dominance relationships are thought to result from asymmetries in both intrinsic and extrinsic power. One form of extrinsic power is the ability to solicit agonistic support from other individuals. In extreme cases extrinsic power differences may override intrinsic power differences so that physically inferior individuals attain rank positions above stronger competitors. In other cases superior extrinsic power in physically inferior individuals may destabilize the otherwise clear dominance relationships. We tested this prediction with observational data on adult males in one of three free-ranging groups of Barbary macaques at Affenberg Salem, Germany. All prime males that were subjects of this study were at least 5–8 years (average 10 years) younger than the old post-prime males that were all subordinate to them. Assuming large age differences to reflect large intrinsic/physical power differences, interactions between these prime and the old males allowed investigation of the separate effects of intrinsic and extrinsic power asymmetries on dominance relationships. We estimated relationship instability using four different estimates (counter aggression, conflicts initiated by aggression from the subordinate, spontaneous submissions by dominants, and decided conflicts won by the subordinate). Relationship instability did not decrease with increasing asymmetry in intrinsic power. Instead, all four measures of relationship instability were positively related to the number of times the dominant in a dyad was target of destabilizing coalitions. Destabilizing coalitions targeted dominant males in old male–prime male dyads more often than in old male–old male dyads. Consequently, old males had less stable relationships with the much stronger prime males than with each other. We conclude that extrinsic power asymmetries predicted the instability of dyadic dominance relationships and may systematically override intrinsic power asymmetries.

scholarly journals The Function of Mounts in Free-Ranging Barbary Macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Anzá ◽  
Bonaventura Majolo ◽  
Federica Amici
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Agonistic Behavior ◽  
Social Bond ◽  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
The Social ◽  
Rank Difference ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractGenerally, nonreproductive sex is thought to act as “social grease,” facilitating peaceful coexistence between subjects that lack close genetic ties. However, specifc nonreproductive sexual behaviors may fulfill different functions. With this study, we aimed to test whether nonreproductive mounts in Barbary macaques are used to 1) assert dominance, 2) reinforce social relationships, and/or 3) solve conflicts. We analyzed nonreproductive mounts (N = 236) and postmount behavior in both aggressive and nonaggressive contexts, in 118 individuals belonging to two semi-free-ranging groups at La Montagne des Singes (France). As predicted by the dominance assertion hypothesis, the probability to be the mounter increased with rank difference, especially in aggressive contexts (increasing from 0.066 to 0.797 in nonaggressive contexts, and from 0.011 to 0.969 in aggressive contexts, when the rank difference was minimal vs. maximal). The strength of the social bond did not significantly predict the proportion of mounts across dyads in nonaggressive contexts, providing no support for the relationship reinforcement hypothesis. Finally, in support of the conflict resolution hypothesis, when individuals engaged in postconflict mounts, 1) the probability of being involved in further aggression decreased from 0.825 to 0.517, while 2) the probability of being involved in grooming interactions with each other increased from 0.119 to 0.606. The strength of the social bond between former opponents had no significant effect on grooming occurrence and agonistic behavior after postconflict mounts. Overall, our findings suggest that nonreproductive mounts in Barbary macaques have different functions that are not affected by the strength of the social bond.

scholarly journals Grooming in Barbary macaques: better to give than to receive?

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Shutt ◽  
Ann MacLarnon ◽  
Michael Heistermann ◽  
Stuart Semple
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Lower Stress ◽  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Grooming Behaviour

It is well established that grooming underpins sociality in group-living primates, and a number of studies have documented the stress-reducing effects of being groomed. In this study, we quantified grooming behaviour and physiological stress (assessed by faecal glucocorticoid analysis) in free-ranging Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus . Our results indicate that it is the giving rather than the receiving of grooming that is associated with lower stress levels. These findings shed important new light on the benefits of this key behaviour in primate social life.

scholarly journals Sex-specific reproductive behaviours and paternity in free-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1453-1466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Brauch ◽  
Keith Hodges ◽  
Antje Engelhardt ◽  
Kerstin Fuhrmann ◽  
Eric Shaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Free Ranging

An experimental study of behavioural coping strategies in free-ranging female Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Stress ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 608-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan L. Gustison ◽  
Ann MacLarnon ◽  
Sue Wiper ◽  
Stuart Semple
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Estrogen and Progestogen Correlates of the Structure of Female Copulation Calls in Semi-Free-Ranging Barbary Macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 992-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Pfefferle ◽  
Michael Heistermann ◽  
Ralph Pirow ◽  
J. Keith Hodges ◽  
Julia Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Macaca Sylvanus ◽  
Barbary Macaques ◽  
Free Ranging
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