Socioecology of wild bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus): an analysis of social relationships among female primates that use tools in feeding

Behaviour ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele P. Verderane ◽  
Patrícia Izar ◽  
Elisabetta Visalberghi ◽  
Dorothy M. Fragaszy
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Tool Use ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Contest Competition ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Socioecological Models ◽  
Female Social Relationships

Socioecology considers that the features of food sources affect female social relationships in group-living species. Among primates, the tests of socioecological models are largely focused on Old World species and do not evaluate if the use of feeding tools affects the competitive regime over food and females’ relations in wild populations. We studied female social relationships among a wild population of bearded capuchins monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) that use percussive tools (stones) to crack encased foods, in a semi-arid habitat in Brazil. Females fed mainly on clumped, high quality resources, indicating that the habitat provides a high quality diet year-round. Females experienced contest competition within and between-groups. As predicted by socioecological models, females’ social relationships were characterized by philopatry, linear dominance hierarchies, coalitions, and tolerance in feeding bouts. Females spent a small proportion of their feeding time using tools. Nevertheless, tool sites generated high rates of contest competition and lower indices of tolerance among females. Although the social structure of our study population did not differ significantly from the pattern observed in wild populations of Sapajus that do not use tools, tool use increased within-group contest competition and apparently contributed to the linearity of the dominance hierarchies established among females. We predict that when tool use results in usurpable food resources, it will increase contest competition within group-living species.

scholarly journals Experimental disturbances reveal group-level costs of social instability

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1891) ◽  
pp. 20181577 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Maldonado-Chaparro ◽  
G. Alarcón-Nieto ◽  
J. A. Klarevas-Irby ◽  
D. R. Farine
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
Group Foraging ◽  
Social Instability ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Important Trait ◽  
Time Away ◽  
Animal Societies

In group-living species, social stability is an important trait associated with the evolution of complex behaviours such as cooperation. While the drivers of stability in small groups are relatively well studied, little is known about the potential impacts of unstable states on animal societies. Temporary changes in group composition, such as a social group splitting and recombining (i.e. a disturbance event), can result in individuals having to re-establish their social relationships, thus taking time away from other tasks such as foraging or vigilance. Here, we experimentally split socially stable groups of captive zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ), and quantified the effects of repeated disturbance events on (1) group foraging efficiency, and (2) co-feeding associations when subgroups were recombined. We found that the efficiency of groups to deplete a rich, but ephemeral, resource patch decreased after just a single short disturbance event. Automated tracking of individuals showed that repeated disturbances reduced efficiency by causing social relationships to become more differentiated and weaker, resulting in fewer individuals simultaneously accessing the patch. Our experiment highlights how short-term disturbances can severely disrupt social structure and group functionality, revealing potential costs associated with group instability that can have consequences for the evolution of animal societies.

scholarly journals Higher sociability leads to lower reproductive success in female kangaroos

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 200950
Author(s):  
C. S. Menz ◽  
A. J. Carter ◽  
E. C. Best ◽  
N. J. Freeman ◽  
R. G. Dwyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Complex Forms ◽  
First Time

In social mammals, social integration is generally assumed to improve females' reproductive success. Most species demonstrating this relationship exhibit complex forms of social bonds and interactions. However, female eastern grey kangaroos ( Macropus giganteus ) exhibit differentiated social relationships, yet do not appear to cooperate directly. It is unclear what the fitness consequences of such sociability could be in species that do not exhibit obvious forms of cooperation. Using 4 years of life history, spatial and social data from a wild population of approximately 200 individually recognizable female eastern grey kangaroos, we tested whether higher levels of sociability are associated with greater reproductive success. Contrary to expectations, we found that the size of a female's social network, her numbers of preferential associations with other females and her group sizes all negatively influenced her reproductive success. These factors influenced the survival of dependent young that had left the pouch rather than those that were still in the pouch. We also show that primiparous females (first-time breeders) were less likely to have surviving young. Our findings suggest that social bonds are not always beneficial for reproductive success in group-living species, and that female kangaroos may experience trade-offs between successfully rearing young and maintaining affiliative relationships.

Affiliations, aggressions and an adoption: Male–male relationships in wild bonobos

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Surbeck ◽  
Gottfried Hohmann
Keyword(s):  
Close Relationships ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Mate Competition ◽  
Male Group ◽  
Cooperative Hunting ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Living Species ◽  
The Way

The nature of the relationships between males is a characteristic trait of many multi-male group living species with implications for the individuals. In our study population of bonobos, certain male dyads exhibit clear preferences for ranging in the same party and sitting in proximity. These preferences are not reflected in the frequency of aggression towards each other and only to some extent in their affiliative and socio-sexual behaviours. While bonobo males at LuiKotale clearly do not benefit from close relationships in the way chimpanzee males do (cooperative hunting, territorial patrol, mate competition), some relationships might result from close associations between their mothers. In some particular situations, these male relationships can be very important as in the case of an orphan adopted by his older maternal brother. La nature des relations entre mâles est un trait caractéristique de plusieurs groupes qui ont plusieurs mâles, avec des implications au niveau d’individus. Dans notre étude des populations de bonobos, certains dyades mâles montrent une préférence à aller dans le même groupe et s’asseoir proche l’un de l’autre. Cette préférence n’est pas reflétée dans la fréquence d’agression entre eux et est seulement lié, à degrés, à leur comportements socio-sexuels et d’appartenance. Tandis que les mâles bonobos à LuiKotale ne profitent pas de leur fortes relations comme les chimpanzés mâles (chasse coopérative, patrouille territoriale, compétition pour compagnon), ils peuvent aider leur partenaires à supporter le stress de la vie en groupe et peuvent en conséquence contribuer au bien-être des individus. Quelques proches associations entre les mâles peuvent provenir d’associations entre leurs mères. Dans quelques situations particulières, ces relations mâles prouvent leur importance comme dans le cas d’un orphelin adopté par son grand frère maternel.

Social ethology of the wolverine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Copeland ◽  
Arild Landa ◽  
Kimberly Heinemeyer ◽  
Keith B. Aubry ◽  
Jiska van Dijk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social System ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Ecological Framework ◽  
The Social ◽  
Living Species

Social behaviour in solitary carnivores has long been an active area of investigation but for many species remains largely founded in conjecture compared to our understanding of sociality in group-living species. The social organization of the wolverine has, until now, received little attention beyond its portrayal as a typical mustelid social system. In this chapter the authors compile observations of social interactions from multiple wolverine field studies, which are integrated into an ecological framework. An ethological model for the wolverine is proposed that reveals an intricate social organization, which is driven by variable resource availability within extremely large territories and supports social behaviour that underpins offspring development.

scholarly journals A test of male infanticide as a reproductive tactic in a cichlid fish

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 160891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shagun Jindal ◽  
Aneesh P. H. Bose ◽  
Constance M. O'Connor ◽  
Sigal Balshine
Keyword(s):  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Laboratory Setting ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Egg Cannibalism ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Dominant Individual ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Reproductive Tactic ◽  
Relative Body Size

Infanticide and offspring cannibalism are taxonomically widespread phenomena. In some group-living species, a new dominant individual taking over a group can benefit from infanticide if doing so induces potential mates to become reproductively available sooner. Despite widespread observations of infanticide (i.e. egg cannibalism) among fishes, no study has investigated whether egg cannibalism occurs in fishes as a result of group takeovers, or how this type of cannibalism might be adaptive. Using the cooperatively breeding cichlid, Neolamprologus pulcher , we tested whether new unrelated males entering the dominant position in a social group were more likely to cannibalize eggs, and whether such cannibalism would shorten the interval until the female's next spawning. Females spawned again sooner if their broods were removed than if they were cared for. Egg cannibalism occurred frequently after a group takeover event, and was rarer if the original male remained with the group. While dominant breeder females were initially highly aggressive towards newcomer males that took over the group, the degree of resistance depended on relative body size differences between the new pair and, ultimately, female aggression did not prevent egg cannibalism. Egg cannibalism, however, did not shorten the duration until subsequent spawning, or increase fecundity during subsequent breeding in our laboratory setting. Our results show that infanticide as mediated through group takeovers is a taxonomically widespread behaviour.

Dominance hierarchies in group-living cleaning gobies: causes and foraging consequences

2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Whiteman ◽  
Isabelle M Côté
Keyword(s):  
Group Living ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies

scholarly journals Urine as a high-quality source of host genomic DNA from wild populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Ozga ◽  
Timothy H. Webster ◽  
Ian C. Gilby ◽  
Melissa A. Wilson ◽  
Rebecca S. Nockerts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Material ◽  
Population History ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Dental Calculus ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Allelic Dropout ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Animal Populations

AbstractThe ability to generate genomic data from wild animal populations has the potential to give unprecedented insight into the population history and dynamics of species in their natural habitats. However, in the case of many species, it is impossible legally, ethically, or logistically to obtain tissues samples of high-quality necessary for genomic analyses. In this study we evaluate the success of multiple sources of genetic material (feces, urine, dentin, and dental calculus) and several capture methods (shotgun, whole-genome, exome) in generating genome-scale data in wild eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) from Gombe National Park, Tanzania. We found that urine harbors significantly more host DNA than other sources, leading to broader and deeper coverage across the genome. Urine also exhibited a lower rate of allelic dropout. We found exome sequencing to be far more successful than both shotgun sequencing and whole-genome capture at generating usable data from low-quality samples such as feces and dental calculus. These results highlight urine as a promising and untapped source of DNA that can be noninvasively collected from wild populations of many species.

scholarly journals Anthropomorphism and the success of human tool-use

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Haslam
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Tool Use ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Intrinsic Rewards ◽  
Technological Complexity ◽  
The World ◽  
Cognitive Overload ◽  
Human Animal

Humans anthropomorphise: as a result of our evolved ultrasociality we see the world through person-coloured glasses. In this review, I suggest that an interesting proportion of the extraordinary tool-using abilities shown by humans results from our mistakenly anthropomorphising and forming social relationships with objects and devices. I introduce the term machination to describe this error, sketch an outline of the evidence for it, tie it to intrinsic rewards for social interaction, and use it to help explain overimitation—itself posited as underpinning human technological complexity—by human children and adults. I also suggest pathways for testing the concept’s presence and limits. With its explicit focus on individual variation and cognitive overload, machination holds promise for understanding how we create and use combinatorial technology, for clarifying differences with non-human animal tool use, and for examining the human fascination with objects.

Energy in Prehistory

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaclav Smil
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Tool Use ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Origins Of Agriculture ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Isotopic Evidence

This chapter discusses the use of energy during prehistoric times. Our direct ancestors spent their lives as simple foragers, and it was only about 10,000 years ago that the first small populations of our species began a sedentary existence based on the domestication of plants and animals. This means that for millions of years, the foraging strategies of hominins resembled those of their primate ancestors, but we now have isotopic evidence from East Africa that by about 3.5 million years ago hominin diets began to diverge from those of extant apes. The chapter first considers how bipedalism started a cascade of enormous evolutionary adjustments such as adaptations underlying tool use and adaptation to high-quality, energy-dense foods (meat, nuts) before providing an overview of foraging societies and the origins of agriculture.

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