Genetic differentiation among matrilines in social groups of rhesus monkeys

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Olivier ◽  
Carole Ober ◽  
John Buettner-Janusch ◽  
Donald Stone Sade
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Social Groups

Peak occurrence of female sexual initiation predicts day of conception in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia L. Zehr ◽  
Pamela L. Tannenbaum ◽  
Benjamin Jones ◽  
Kim Wallen
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Sexual Initiation ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Sexual Solicitation ◽  
Delivery Date ◽  
Conception Date ◽  
Highly Correlated

The present study investigated whether peaks in female sexual initiation could accurately predict conception in group-living female rhesus monkeys. Behavioral observations, 4 or 5 days per week in large, stable, social groups of monkeys, provided frequencies of female initiation of proximity, sexual solicitation, mounts, and ejaculations. Since a preovulatory peak in female sexual initiation is likely linked to the preovulatory oestradiol surge, we used the third day after a peak in behavior as the behavioral estimate of conception date. For each pregnancy, an independent estimate of conception date was derived from ultrasound determination of fetal length. Estimates of conception based on female initiation of proximity with adult males were accurate for more than 90% of pregnancies, whereas observation of ejaculations by males predicted conception in fewer than 60% of pregnancies. Behavioral and ultrasound estimates of conception date were highly correlated and differed by less than 1 day on average. Accordingly, predictions of delivery date based on behavioral estimates of conception date were as accurate as those based on ultrasound-derived estimates. These data suggest that female-initiated sexual behavior can be used in rhesus monkeys as a practical, non-invasive tool for producing timed matings in social groups of monkeys, providing accurate estimates of conception date, gestational age, and predicted date of birth.

DIURNAL VARIATION IN PLASMA TESTOSTERONE AND CORTISOL IN RHESUS MONKEYS LIVING IN SOCIAL GROUPS

1978 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. ROSE ◽  
T. P. GORDON ◽  
I. S. BERNSTEIN
Keyword(s):  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Diurnal Changes ◽  
Considerable Individual Variation ◽  
Male Rhesus

SUMMARY Concentrations of cortisol and testosterone in the plasma of adult male rhesus monkeys living in social groups were determined during a 27-h period. Capture and venipuncture of experienced, conditioned animals did not lead to a fall in the concentration of testosterone in the plasma during the 90 min immediately after removal from the group. Both plasma cortisol and plasma testosterone concentrations showed a significant fall and rise in samples collected every 3 h during a 27-h period, even though there was considerable individual variation. During the autumn breeding season, animals showed higher concentrations of testosterone at both 10.00 and 22.00 h compared with those observed at the same times during the summer. Even though animals demonstrated significant diurnal changes, testosterone samples withdrawn at the same time of day (10.00 h) on consecutive days were significantly correlated with one another (r = 0·65, n = 27, P < 0·01), suggesting the usefulness of sampling once a day to study potential environmental influences on plasma testosterone concentrations.

Genealogical Mating Activity in Free-Ranging Groups of Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta) On Cayo Santiago

Behaviour ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 45 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Missakian
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Sharp Contrast ◽  
Cayo Santiago ◽  
Mating Activity ◽  
Behavioral Observations ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractBehavioral observations on a large group of free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were carried out on Cayo Santiago from January I968 through December I969 and from October through December I970. Records of mating activity (single mounts, mount series, copulations) indicated that genealogical mating activity on Cayo Santiago had the following characteristics : (I) 5.4% of all recorded mount series and copulations involved mother-son pairs; (2) mating was observed in 3I% of 26 individual pairs of mothers and sons; (3) mating was seen in I2% of 42 individual pairs of brothers and sisters; (4) of I0 instances of mother-son mating, seven involved pairs in which the mother was dominant to the son; (5) mating in mother-son and brother-sister pairs occurred in high and low ranking genealogies within the group; (6) with two exceptions, all three to five-year old males who did engage in sexual activity with their mothers did not mate with non-related females during that breeding season; and (7) with one exception, all instances of mother-son and brother-sister mating involved males from three to five years of age. These findings are in sharp contrast to observations made on a smaller group on Cayo Santiago. Possible causes for this difference between social groups of different size are discussed.

Survey of parasites of rhesus monkeys housed in small social groups

1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrine M. Phillippi ◽  
Margaret R. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Social Groups

Influence of olfactory signals on the reproductive behaviour of social groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

1982 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Michael ◽  
Doris Zumpe
Keyword(s):  
Mate Selection ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Order Effect ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Sexual Skin

Olfactory influences are important in the control of reproductive function in many mammalian species including primates. Previous studies have shown that a mixture of volatile aliphatic acids (copulins), normally present in the vaginal secretions of rhesus monkeys, can exert a stimulatory effect on the sexual behaviour of males when pairs are tested in small cages. The present study deals with the role of these substances when tested in social groups of rhesus monkeys housed in a large testing arena, the purpose being to assess the effectiveness of olfactory signals under more nearly naturalistic conditions. Each group consisted of one male with four long-term ovariectomized females from which the male could choose. A counter-balanced experimental design was used in which each female of a testosterone-treated pair was given applications to the sexual skin of either copulins or control ether immediately before each 1-h behaviour test. After 16 tests, the procedure was repeated with the previously untreated pair in each group, and nine groups were separately studied. Testosterone was used here simply to enhance female proceptivity. The results showed that females received significantly more ejaculations (P <0·05). mounting attempts (P <0·01) and mounts (P <0·05) when bearing copulins than when bearing control ether. There were positive responses to copulins in 12 of the 36 male–female pairs, involving all males, and positive responses to ether in five of 36 pairs, involving four males. Copulins resulted in a change in the choice of sexual partner in five males, but there were no changes in the choice of partner with ether. Social factors, such as dominance, could override the responses to olfactory signals, and there was a significant treatment order effect, but this was eliminated by the counter-balanced design. These findings indicate a significant role for olfactory communication in mate selection in a socially living higher primate.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document