Infanticide by Adult Males in Three Primate Species of the Kibale Forest, Uganda: A Test of Hypotheses

Abstract1. A group of 32 yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in the Masai-Amboseli National Park, Kenya, caught and ate 45 vertebrate prey items during 2519.19 hours of observation. 2. Eighty percent of the prey items were mammals and the most frequently eaten species were African hares (Lepus capensis), vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and neonate gazelle (Cazella granti and G. thomsoni) in that order. The details of predatory behavior for each prey species are described. 3. Rates of predation were significantly higher during the long dry season than during other months of the year, although no correlation was found between total monthly rainfall and monthly rates of predation. A lognormal model however provided a good fit to the monthly rate of predation data suggesting that the rate of predation by Amboseli baboons was affected by several factors that acted multiplicatively with respect to each other and were themselves related to rainfall or dryness. 4. A mean of 2.3 individuals fed directly from the carcass of each prey item. A mean of 3.5 individuals per prey item fed directly or indirectly, i.e., on scraps, from each carcass. In general, both the number of individuals who fed from each carcass and the duration of their feeding bouts was dependent upon the gross body size of the prey item. Adult males fed directly from the carcass of prey items for about three times more minutes than expected from their number in the group; other classes of individuals fed directly from prey carcasses for only one-fourth as many minutes as expected. In general, an adult male would be expected to feed on each category of vertebrate prey at least once per year, while individuals of all other age-sex classes would be expected to feed on most prey categories only once every two years. 5. The most frequent social behavior around prey items was agonistic bouts; no cooperation, simultaneous feeding or specific begging gestures were observed. 6. Estimates of the total number of prey killed annually by Amboseli baboons indicate that baboon predation probably has a negligible effect on prey populations other than vervet monkeys. 7. It is speculated that the need for vitamin B12 underlies baboon predatory behavior, and perhaps that of other primate species as well.

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Clasping Behaviour in Macaca Tonkeana

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853984x00010 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 89 (1-2) ◽

pp. 1-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Bernard Thierry

Keyword(s):

Primate Species ◽

Agonistic Interaction ◽

Adult Males ◽

Social Grooming ◽

Substantial Variation ◽

Social Functions ◽

Macaca Tonkeana ◽

Different Origins ◽

Age And Sex ◽

Human Primate

AbstractClasping behaviour was studied in two groups of Macaca tonkeana, one being confined in a cage, the other living in a half-hectare park. Five patterns have been distinguished: grasping the hindquarters, grasping, reaching around, embracing and hugging. Clasping may occur in three contexts: greeting, aggression and sexual harassment. There seems to be no direct relationship between context and pattern of clasping. However, there is substantial variation in form and context according to age- and sex-class. Females are the individuals mostly involved in clasps, being initiators as well as receivers; adult males also initiate numerous clasps but receive few. Adult and subadult males especially use grasping the hindquarters while other age- and sex-classes more often use reaching around. Clasping in aggression is more characteristic of females than males. Several behaviours may be associated with clasping. The accompanying behaviours are more frequent in initiator than in receiver. Clasp is often followed by social grooming, mount, wrestle or another clasp. The results of this study in Macaca tonkeana may be compared with information from other studies of non-human primate species. This allows one to draw several conclusions: 1. Frequency, form and distribution of clasping vary from one species to another. There is great variation in certain species, for instance, Macaca tonkeana. 2. Several behaviours usually accompany clasping and may modulate its meaning. 3. Clasping behaviour shows many similarities to mounting behaviour. Although these two behaviours have different origins, they have acquired similar social functions. 4. Clasping plays a prominent role in control of aggression. In Macaca tonkeana, this behaviour is especially used in appeasement (an individual receiving aggression clasps its aggressor during the aggression), reconciliation (an aggressor clasps its antagonist after the aggression) and non-agonistic protection (a third individual intervenes in an agonistic interaction by clasping the aggressor). Non-agonistic protection is an interaction which was until now described only in chimpanzees.

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Variation in Adult Male-Juvenile Affiliative Behavior in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Folia Primatologica ◽

10.1159/000508761 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 610-621

Author(s):

Kylen N. Gartland ◽

Colin M. Brand ◽

Lawrence R. Ulibarri ◽

Frances J. White

Keyword(s):

Adult Male ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Macaca Fuscata ◽

Japanese Macaques ◽

Primate Species ◽

Mating Effort ◽

Primate Research ◽

Paternal Investment ◽

Adult Males ◽

Positive Correlation

Adult males of some primate species are known to positively interact with juveniles. In cases where paternal certainty is high, these behaviors have been largely attributed to the paternal investment hypothesis. Males have also been observed to interact with nonkin juveniles, which has often been explained in terms of mating effort. Here, we examined variation in adult male-juvenile affiliation in semi-free ranging Japanese macaques (<i>Macaca fuscata</i>) at the Oregon National Primate Research Center against possible influencing factors such as age, dominance rank, and female affiliation, and we also tested for fitness benefits. We conducted 154 h of focal observations of 14 adult males from June to September 2018. Males differed significantly in their rate of juvenile-directed affiliation, but not in their fitness in terms of number of offspring. There was a significant positive correlation between rank and age in the group, indicating that, in this group, rank does not conform to the classic inverted-U pattern observed elsewhere in this species. Although there was a significant positive correlation between rank and juvenile-directed affiliation, the highest-ranking male had few offspring and exhibited little juvenile-directed affiliation. These results suggest little to no preliminary support for either the paternal investment or mating effort hypotheses as explanations for juvenile-directed affiliation. This study suggests that there are multiple behavioral strategies for older males that may influence reproductive success.

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Coordination during group departures and group progressions in the tolerant multilevel society of wild Guinea baboons (Papio papio)

10.1101/797761 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Davide Montanari ◽

Julien Hambuckers ◽

Julia Fischer ◽

Dietmar Zinner

Keyword(s):

Social Organization ◽

Resource Distribution ◽

Papio Hamadryas ◽

Primate Species ◽

Test Case ◽

List Type ◽

Adult Males ◽

Hamadryas Baboons ◽

Group Coordination ◽

Papio Papio

AbstractObjectivesMost primate species live in groups, and temporal and spatial coordination of activities of individuals is essential for maintaining group cohesion, and there is still considerable debate to which degree social organization, the extent of despotism, and resource distribution shape group coordination processes. As different baboon species exhibit considerable variation in all of these factors, they constitute an excellent test case to resolve this debate.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed group departures and progressions of Guinea baboons, Papio papio, in the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal. Guinea baboons live in a multi-level society with strong male bonds and a lack of a clear dominance hierarchy between males.ResultsTwo-thirds of departures were initiated by adult males, and one third by adult females. Although initiators were more likely to signal than followers, signaling did not affect the initiation success. During group progression, males that were not affiliated with females were predominantly found in the front, while affiliated males, females and young were observed more frequently closer to the center of the group, and no preferences for rear positions. Overall, affiliated subjects were more likely to depart and travel together.DiscussionThe group departures in Guinea baboons differed strikingly from the elaborate ‘negotiation’ behaviors among male hamadryas baboons, Papio hamadryas. We did not observe that specific individuals dominated the group coordination. Neither social organization, variation in despotism, nor resource distribution alone explain variation between species. Future studies should test whether specific combinations of factors promote the occurrence of negotiation processes.Research HighlightsIn wild Guinea baboons, both adult males and females initiated group departuresInitiators signaled during departures, but this did not affect initiation successSolitary males were predominantly found at the front during group progression

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Characterization of Tamm-Horsfall Urinary Glycoprotein

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010007254x ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 420-421

Author(s):

John P. Robinson ◽

J. David Puett

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Circular Dichroism ◽

Secondary Structure ◽

Quaternary Structure ◽

Normal Adult ◽

Morphological Properties ◽

Adult Males ◽

Circular Dichroïsm ◽

Urinary Glycoprotein

Much work has been reported on the chemical, physical and morphological properties of urinary Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG). Although it was once reported that cystic fibrotic (CF) individuals had a defective THG, more recent data indicate that THG and CF-THG are similar if not identical.No studies on the conformational aspects have been reported on this glycoprotein using circular dichroism (CD). We examined the secondary structure of THG and derivatives under various conditions and have correlated these results with quaternary structure using electron microscopy.THG was prepared from normal adult males and CF-THG from a 16-year old CF female by the method of Tamm and Horsfall. CF female by the method of Tamm and Horsfall.

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