scholarly journals The utility of voluntary weighing in captive group-living rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
DGM Zijlmans ◽  
MK Vernes ◽  
EHM Sterck ◽  
JAM Langermans
Keyword(s):  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Primate Research ◽  
Time Investment ◽  
Routine Handling

Bodyweight is an important health and welfare indicator for captive non-human primates (NHPs). Bodyweight can be measured during routine handling procedures, which cause stress. Alternatively, animals can be trained to step onto a scale, but training success varies greatly between individuals. Being able to weigh animals regularly without having to handle or train them is thus desirable for monitoring animal health and welfare. This study investigates the utility, ie the participation, reliability and time investment, of voluntary weighing in captive NHPs living in large social groups. Subjects of the study were 92 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) housed in four social groups at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk, The Netherlands. A scale was placed in their home enclosure during several sessions. Individuals were unwilling to step onto an unbaited scale. When likeable food items were used to attract individuals to the scale, 68% of them stepped onto the scale. Age and dominance rank did not affect stepping onto the scale, whereas exploratory tendency and social group did. The level of agreement between bodyweight by voluntary weighing and bodyweight measured during sedation was very high. These results show that the majority of rhesus macaques in social groups can be weighed voluntarily and that voluntary weighing is reliable. When optimising and further developing the method, voluntary weighing can form a valuable tool in the captive management of NHPs.

scholarly journals Spontaneous endometriosis in rhesus macaques: evidence for a genetic association with specific Mamu-A1 alleles

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
Ivanela Kondova ◽  
Gerco Braskamp ◽  
Peter J. Heidt ◽  
Wim Collignon ◽  
Tom Haaksma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mhc Class I ◽  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
The United States ◽  
Class I ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Primate Research ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract. Endometriosis is a poorly understood common debilitating women's reproductive disorder resulting from proliferative and ectopic endometrial tissue associated with variable clinical symptoms including dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods), dyspareunia (pain on intercourse), female infertility, and an increased risk of malignant transformation. The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) develops a spontaneous endometriosis that is very similar to that seen in women. We hypothesized that specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. As part of a collaboration between the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) in the Netherlands and the New England Primate Research Center (NEPRC) in the United States, we analyzed DNA sequences of MHC class I (Macaca mulatta, Mamu-A1) and class II (Mamu-DRB) alleles from rhesus macaques with endometriosis and compared the allele frequencies with those of age-matched healthy macaques. We demonstrate that two MHC class I alleles are overrepresented in diseased macaques compared to controls: Mamu-A1*001, 33.3 % in BPRC animals with endometriosis vs. 11.6 % in healthy macaques (p =  0.007), and Mamu-A1*007, 21.9 % NEPRC rhesus macaques vs. 6.7 %, (p =  0.003). We provide evidence that select MHC class I alleles are associated with endometriosis in rhesus macaques and suggest that the disease pathogenesis contribution of MHC class I warrants further research.

scholarly journals A Stepwise Male Introduction Procedure to Prevent Inbreeding in Naturalistic Macaque Breeding Groups

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 545
Author(s):  
Astrid Rox ◽  
André H. van Vliet ◽  
Jan A. M. Langermans ◽  
Elisabeth H. M. Sterck ◽  
Annet L. Louwerse
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Primate Research ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
Breeding Groups ◽  
Male Rhesus ◽  
Housing Facility

Male introductions into captive primate breeding groups can be risky and unsuccessful. However, they are necessary to prevent inbreeding in naturalistic breeding groups. The procedure used to introduce new individuals may affect the success and influence the risks associated with group introductions. At the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) introductions into naturalistic social groups with a matrilineal structure and without a breeding male achieve relatively high success rates. This paper describes the male introduction procedure used at the BPRC. Males are stepwise familiarized with and introduced to their new group, while all interactions between the new male and the resident females are closely monitored. Monitoring the behaviour of the resident females and their new male during all stages of the introduction provides crucial information as to whether or not it is safe to proceed. The BPRC introduction procedure is widely applicable and may improve the management of captive primate groups in any housing facility worldwide. Thus, the careful introduction management can minimize the risk associated with male introductions and enhance the welfare of captive primates.

Contribution of adult sex ratio to trauma and reproductive output in large breeding groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-492
Author(s):  
J Crast ◽  
MA Bloomsmith ◽  
CM Remillard ◽  
T Meeker
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primate Research ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Breeding Groups ◽  
Financial Burdens

Maintaining stable breeding groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) can be challenging due to the complex social dynamics and despotic nature of the species. Trauma from aggression is a common problem in rhesus colonies and can cause social disruption, strain veterinary and animal management resources, and potentially affect reproduction. Previous research has shown that increasing the number of non-natal adult males in a breeding group can improve group stability, reduce trauma, and increase reproduction. Here, we used mixed-effects regression models to examine the effects of sex ratio and other factors on trauma and reproduction at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center using a historical dataset made up of four large rhesus groups over an eleven-year period (2003–2013). As expected, sex ratio was a significant predictor for both trauma and reproduction. However, group age since formation was a stronger predictor of trauma frequency and the amount of space available was a slightly better predictor of reproduction than sex ratio or trauma. These results indicate that improving sex ratios can be a viable management strategy to reduce trauma and improve reproduction, particularly when it is difficult to manipulate the group compositions and/or their housing situations. Reducing trauma is a primary goal for rhesus breeding colonies, as it directly impacts the monkeys' health and psychological well-being. Such improvements are necessary for the ethical treatment and care of the animals themselves, but also to reduce financial burdens and maintain a healthy colony for research purposes.

Male Dominance and Reproductive Success in a Captive Group of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)

Behaviour ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 129 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Glenn Smith
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Dominance Hierarchy ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Captive Group ◽  
Lower Ranking

AbstractPaternity exclusion analysis was employed to estimate the reproductive success (RS) of 32 males who experienced at least one breeding season over the age of four years between 1977 and 1991 in a captive group of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Although three different males held alpha rank during the period, the male dominance hierarchy remained relatively stable even when the number of males was high. Average dominance rank and overall RS of males while in the group were strongly correlated. However, during most years the correlation between male dominance rank and RS was not statistically significant because males who achieved high rank 1)were those who experienced relatively high RS as lower ranking subadults and 2) maintained high dominance rank after experiencing a sustained decline in RS. Correlations between male dominance rank and RS were highest when the number of subadult males entering the dominance hierarchy was increasing and one or a very few males were least effective in monopolizing females. These results are not consistent with expectations based solely on the priority of access model of intrasexual selection. Female choice, as exemplified by the preference of females for mating with young males that are rising in rank, might also influence the evolution of social dominance in rhesus macaques.

scholarly journals A multiplex centrality metric for complex social networks: sex, social status, and family structure predict multiplex centrality in rhesus macaques

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianne Beisner ◽  
Niklas Braun ◽  
Márton Pósfai ◽  
Jessica Vandeleest ◽  
Raissa D’Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
The Impact

Members of a society interact using a variety of social behaviors, giving rise to a multi-faceted and complex social life. For the study of animal behavior, quantifying this complexity is critical for understanding the impact of social life on animals’ health and fitness. Multilayer network approaches, where each interaction type represents a different layer of the social network, have the potential to better capture this complexity than single layer approaches. Calculating individuals’ centrality within a multilayer social network can reveal keystone individuals and more fully characterize social roles. However, existing measures of multilayer centrality do not account for differences in the dynamics and functionality across interaction layers. Here we validate a new method for quantifying multiplex centrality called consensus ranking by applying this method to multiple social groups of a well-studied nonhuman primate, the rhesus macaque. Consensus ranking can suitably handle the complexities of animal social life, such as networks with different properties (sparse vs. dense) and biological meanings (competitive vs. affiliative interactions). We examined whether individuals’ attributes or socio-demographic factors (sex, age, dominance rank and certainty, matriline size, rearing history) were associated with multiplex centrality. Social networks were constructed for five interaction layers (i.e., aggression, status signaling, conflict policing, grooming and huddling) for seven social groups. Consensus ranks were calculated across these five layers and analyzed with respect to individual attributes and socio-demographic factors. Generalized linear mixed models showed that consensus ranking detected known social patterns in rhesus macaques, showing that multiplex centrality was greater in high-ranking males with high certainty of rank and females from the largest families. In addition, consensus ranks also showed that females from very small families and mother-reared (compared to nursery-reared) individuals were more central, showing that consideration of multiple social domains revealed individuals whose social centrality and importance might otherwise have been missed.

scholarly journals Unreciprocated allogrooming hierarchies in a population of wild group-living mammals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E Nadin ◽  
David W. Macdonald ◽  
Sandra Baker ◽  
Christina D. Buesching ◽  
Stephen Ellwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Social Species ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
European Badgers ◽  
Wild Group

Allogrooming can relate to social status in mammalian societies, and thus, be used to infer social structure. This relationship has previously been investigated by examining an individual’s dominance rank and their total amount of allogrooming. This, however, does not account for the identity of allogrooming partners. We applied a novel approach, calculating the linearity and steepness of unreciprocated allogrooming hierarchies using actor–receiver matrices in European badgers (Meles meles) groups. Badgers have relatively unstructured social groups compared to most group-living carnivores and allogrooming in badgers is currently hypothesized to have a hygiene function. We examine whether allogrooming is linked to social status by investigating: 1) the presence, linearity, and steepness of unreciprocated allogrooming hierarchies; 2) the trading of unreciprocated allogrooming for the potential benefit of receiving reduced aggression from dominant individuals; and, 3) whether unreciprocated allogrooming is associated with relatedness. We found weak unreciprocated allogrooming hierarchies, with marginal linearity, steepness overall, and variation between social-group-years. Unreciprocated allogrooming was positively correlated with directed aggression, potentially providing evidence for the trading of allogrooming for reduced aggression. Allogrooming was not correlated with relatedness, possibly due to high relatedness within social groups. Our findings reaffirm that European badgers have a relatively unstructured social system; likely reflecting a relatively simple state of sociality in Carnivores, with little need for hierarchical order. Using actor–receiver unreciprocated allogrooming matrices to test for linearity and steepness of unreciprocated allogrooming hierarchies in other social species will improve knowledge of group social structure.

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