scholarly journals Phylogenetically-controlled correlates of primate blinking behaviour

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10950
Author(s):  
Sean A. Rands
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Blink Rate ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Risky Behaviour ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Locomotion Mode ◽  
Maintenance Behaviour

Eye blinking is an essential maintenance behaviour for many terrestrial animals, but is also a risky behaviour as the animal is unable to scan the environment and detect hazards while its eyes are temporarily closed. It is therefore likely that the length of time that the eyes are closed and the length of the gap between blinks for a species may reflect aspects of the ecology of that species, such as its social or physical environment. An earlier published study conducted a comparative study linking blinking behaviour and ecology, and detailed a dataset describing the blinking behaviour of a large number of primate species that was collected from captive animals, but the analysis presented did not control for the nonindependence of the data due to common evolutionary history. In the present study, the dataset is reanalysed using phylogenetic comparative methods, after reconsideration of the parameters describing the physical and social environments of the species. I find that blink rate is best described by the locomotion mode of a species, where species moving through arboreal environments blink least, ground-living species blink most, and species that use both environments show intermediate rates. The duration of a blink was also related to locomotion mode, and positively correlated with both mean species group size and mean species body mass, although the increase in relation to group size is small. How a species moves through the environment therefore appears to be important for determining blinking behaviour, and suggests that complex arboreal environments may require less interruption to visual attention. Given that the data were collected with captive individuals, caution is recommended for interpreting the correlations found.

scholarly journals Ecological aspects of black-pincelled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) in the cerradão and dense cerrado of the Brazilian Central Plateau

2001 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. B. de MIRANDA ◽  
D. S. de FARIA
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Central Plateau ◽  
Bird Eggs ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Gallery Forests

Ecological data about three free-ranging groups of C. penicillata (black-pincelled marmoset) were observed between March and December 1996, in one cerradão patch (in the Ecological Reserve of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, RECOR) and two patches of dense cerrado (one in the Recor and another in the Botanical Garden of Brasília, JBB), situated in the APA (area of environmental protection) of the Gama/Cabeça-de-Veado, Distrito Federal. Each area was visited weekly during three periods of two months -- end of the rainy season (01/04 to 31/05), dry season (16/06 to 15/08) and beginning of the rainy season (14/10 to 15/12) -- and instantaneous scan records at fifteen minute intervals were made for the vertical and horizontal position of each visible individual of the target group. The group size ranged between 4 and 11 elements. In September, the birth of twins in both groups of the Recor was observed. Home-range varied from 8.25 to 18.5 hectares, while density ranged from 0.4 to 0.82 ind/ha. Twenty two species of nine tree families were identified as exudate sources. Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae), Vochysia thyrsoidea (Vochysiaceae), Scheflera macrocarpum (Araliaceae) and Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae) were more explored. Fruits (14 species, two of which were exotics), nectar, honey, arthropods (mainly orthopterans) and bird eggs complete their diet. The main sleep-tree species was Emmotum nitens (Icacinaceae). Data from different seasons and studied groups/areas were compared along previous data from this primate species in gallery forests. In the cerradão and dense cerrado areas C. penicillata had a similar group size, however a larger home-range and smaller density than in gallery forests were observed in this study.

The Akodon boliviensis species group (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) in Argentina: species limits and distribution, with the description of a new entity

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2409 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. PABLO JAYAT ◽  
PABLO E. ORTIZ ◽  
JORGE SALAZAR-BRAVO ◽  
ULYSES F. J. PARDIÑAS ◽  
GUILLERMO D’ELÍA
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Species Limits ◽  
Northwestern Argentina ◽  
Semiarid Environments ◽  
Central Argentina ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Mountain System ◽  
Living Species

Akodon, with about 42 living species, is the most diverse genus of the subfamily Sigmodontinae. The Akodon boliviensis species group includes small-bodied, morphologically similar forms inhabiting Altiplano grasslands and grassland/forest ecotones of the eastern slope of the Andes, from central Peru to central Argentina. Northwestern Argentina contains the largest diversity of species of the group; the taxonomic treatment of these species has been based largely on unsupported and some weakly based opinions as underscored by recurrent changes. Based on morphologic and molecular data we assessed species limits among Argentinean populations of the Akodon boliviensis species group. We conclude that four species of the A. boliviensis species group inhabit northwestern Argentina. These are: A. boliviensis; A. caenosus (under which we synonymyze A. aliquantulus); A. spegazzinii (of which the nominal forms alterus, leucolimnaeus, and tucumanensis are junior synonyms); and A. sylvanus. Additionally, we described here a new species of the A. boliviensis species group, Akodon polopi, which inhabits central Argentina. This is the only species of the A. boliviensis species group inhabiting the Sierras Grandes range (ca. 2000 m), mountain system of medium height, isolated (ca., 600 km) from the main Andean chain by low elevation arid and semiarid environments. Additionally, our phylogenetic analyses suggests that the Akodon varius species group is polyphyletic.

scholarly journals Effect of Group Size and Individual Characteristics on Intergroup Encounters in Primates

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonaventura Majolo ◽  
Aurora deBortoli Vizioli ◽  
Laura Martínez-Íñigo ◽  
Julia Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
New World Monkeys ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Intergroup Encounters ◽  
Group 2

AbstractIntergroup encounters are common in nonhuman primates and can vary from affiliative to aggressive. We extracted data from the literature to test five different hypotheses: 1) where there are group size differences between opposing groups, whether the larger group is more likely to win an intergroup encounter than the smaller group; 2) whether the likelihood of a group engaging in aggressive intergroup encounters increases with group size; and 3–5) whether dominant, older individuals, and/or males are more likely to participate aggressively in intergroup encounters than subordinate, younger individuals and/or females. Our data set comprised 52 studies on 31 primate species (3 lemur species, 5 New World monkeys, 19 Old World monkeys, and 4 apes). We found that the larger group is more likely to win an encounter against a smaller group than vice versa. We found no significant relationship between group size and propensity to be aggressive during intergroup encounters. We found weak/no support for the effect of age, dominance rank, and sex on the frequency of aggression displayed toward outgroup individuals during intergroup encounters. Species- and population-specific differences in inter- and intragroup competition and in the degree of the unequal distribution of resources across group members may explain why age, dominance rank, and sex are not strong predictors of aggression during intergroup encounters.

scholarly journals The multinomial index: a robust measure of reproductive skew

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1936) ◽  
pp. 20202025
Author(s):  
Cody T. Ross ◽  
Adrian V. Jaeggi ◽  
Monique Borgerhoff Mulder ◽  
Jennifer E. Smith ◽  
Eric Alden Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Social Evolution ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
R Package ◽  
Reproductive Skew ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Population Comparisons ◽  
Negative Effect

Inequality or skew in reproductive success (RS) is common across many animal species and is of long-standing interest to the study of social evolution. However, the measurement of inequality in RS in natural populations has been challenging because existing quantitative measures are highly sensitive to variation in group/sample size, mean RS, and age-structure. This makes comparisons across multiple groups and/or species vulnerable to statistical artefacts and hinders empirical and theoretical progress. Here, we present a new measure of reproductive skew, the multinomial index, M , that is unaffected by many of the structural biases affecting existing indices. M is analytically related to Nonacs’ binomial index, B , and comparably accounts for heterogeneity in age across individuals; in addition, M allows for the possibility of diminishing or even highly nonlinear RS returns to age. Unlike B , however, M is not biased by differences in sample/group size. To demonstrate the value of our index for cross-population comparisons, we conduct a reanalysis of male reproductive skew in 31 primate species. We show that a previously reported negative effect of group size on mating skew was an artefact of structural biases in existing skew measures, which inevitably decline with group size; this bias disappears when using M . Applying phylogenetically controlled, mixed-effects models to the same dataset, we identify key similarities and differences in the inferred within- and between-species predictors of reproductive skew across metrics. Finally, we provide an R package, SkewCalc , to estimate M from empirical data.

scholarly journals Group augmentation, collective action, and territorial boundary patrols by male chimpanzees

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (28) ◽  
pp. 7337-7342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin E. Langergraber ◽  
David P. Watts ◽  
Linda Vigilant ◽  
John C. Mitani
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Collective Good ◽  
Collective Action Problems ◽  
High Dominance ◽  
Participation Costs ◽  
Low Costs

How can collective action evolve when individuals benefit from cooperation regardless of whether they pay its participation costs? According to one influential perspective, collective action problems are common, especially when groups are large, but may be solved when individuals who have more to gain from the collective good or can produce it at low costs provide it to others as a byproduct. Several results from a 20-y study of one of the most striking examples of collective action in nonhuman animals, territorial boundary patrolling by male chimpanzees, are consistent with these ideas. Individuals were more likely to patrol when (i) they had more to gain because they had many offspring in the group; (ii) they incurred relatively low costs because of their high dominance rank and superior physical condition; and (iii) the group size was relatively small. However, several other findings were better explained by group augmentation theory, which proposes that individuals should bear the short-term costs of collective action even when they have little to gain immediately if such action leads to increases in group size and long-term increases in reproductive success. In support of this theory, (i) individual patrolling effort was higher and less variable than participation in intergroup aggression in other primate species; (ii) males often patrolled when they had no offspring or maternal relatives in the group; and (iii) the aggregate patrolling effort of the group did not decrease with group size. We propose that group augmentation theory deserves more consideration in research on collective action.

scholarly journals SPACE CONFIGURATION AS AN ADAPTATION ELEMENT OF MADURESE MIGRANT URBAN SETTLEMENTS IN MALANG

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-196
Author(s):  
Damayanti Asikin ◽  
Antariksa ◽  
Lisa Dwi Wulandari ◽  
Wara Indira Rukmi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Environment And Behavior ◽  
Urban Settlements ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Topographical Factors ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Descriptive Method

Humans interacting with their physical and social environments always try to adapt individually or in groups. In the adaptation process, a space dynamic will occur and cause space changes. Adaptation elements include the physical environment, socio-cultural environment, and behavior. Interaction among the adaptation elements will form changes to space configuration. Kotalama is the largest Madurese migrant settlement in Malang and was established in the 1950s. Research on space configuration was conducted to study the adaptation elements in the interaction process of the migrants and their environment. The research used a qualitative, descriptive method and inductive analysis to gain insights on the relationship to dwellings on Madura Island. Data were collected through observations of dwelling space configuration. In addition, in-depth interviews with key informants were held. The results show that the space configuration of dwellings in Kotalama contain elements of adaptation and interaction between the migrants and their environment. These elements relate to Madurese ethnic identity, which are influenced by local topographical factors and limited by the size of the settlement area.

Diversity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Troisi
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Cultural Relativism ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Behavioral Diversity ◽  
Evolutionary Origins ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Intrinsic Feature

From the perspective of evolutionary biology, diversity is an intrinsic feature of any living species and a target on which natural selection can act in opposite ways: either decreasing it (stabilizing selection) or increasing it (diversifying selection). This duality is reflected in our emotional attitude toward diversity. This chapter summarizes current knowledge on the evolutionary origins of emotional reactions to physical and behavioral diversity in human cultures. After a preliminary discussion of “alternative strategies” observed by ethologists in primate species, the chapter explores the biological roots of intolerance, xenophobia, racism, discrimination, and other forms of rejection of diversity. Findings that have linked ethnocentrism to primitive defenses against infectious diseases are reviewed. Subsequently, the chapter describes how a bias toward “normality” has always lived alongside a powerful attraction to diversity. The chapter closes with reflections based on recent psychiatric and anthropological reports that show how the issue of tolerance of cultural diversity is an unsolved problem, in spite of reassuring claims of the advocates of cultural relativism.

scholarly journals The effect of boldness on decision-making in barnacle geese is group-size-dependent

2010 ◽  
Vol 278 (1714) ◽  
pp. 2018-2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf H. J. M. Kurvers ◽  
Vena M. A. P. Adamczyk ◽  
Sipke E. van Wieren ◽  
Herbert H. T. Prins
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Central Question ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Collective Decisions ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Barnacle Geese

In group-living species, decisions made by individuals may result in collective behaviours. A central question in understanding collective behaviours is how individual variation in phenotype affects collective behaviours. However, how the personality of individuals affects collective decisions in groups remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of boldness on the decision-making process in different-sized groups of barnacle geese. Naive barnacle geese, differing in boldness score, were introduced in a labyrinth in groups with either one or three informed demonstrators. The demonstrators possessed information about the route through the labyrinth. In pairs, the probability of choosing a route prior to the informed demonstrator increased with increasing boldness score: bolder individuals decided more often for themselves where to go compared with shyer individuals, whereas shyer individuals waited more often for the demonstrators to decide and followed this information. In groups of four individuals, however, there was no effect of boldness on decision-making, suggesting that individual differences were less important with increasing group size. Our experimental results show that personality is important in collective decisions in pairs of barnacle geese, and suggest that bolder individuals have a greater influence over the outcome of decisions in groups.

scholarly journals Coevolution of cultural intelligence, extended life history, sociality, and brain size in primates

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (30) ◽  
pp. 7908-7914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally E. Street ◽  
Ana F. Navarrete ◽  
Simon M. Reader ◽  
Kevin N. Laland
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Social Learning ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Brain Expansion

Explanations for primate brain expansion and the evolution of human cognition and culture remain contentious despite extensive research. While multiple comparative analyses have investigated variation in brain size across primate species, very few have addressed why primates vary in how much they use social learning. Here, we evaluate the hypothesis that the enhanced reliance on socially transmitted behavior observed in some primates has coevolved with enlarged brains, complex sociality, and extended lifespans. Using recently developed phylogenetic comparative methods we show that, across primate species, a measure of social learning proclivity increases with absolute and relative brain volume, longevity (specifically reproductive lifespan), and social group size, correcting for research effort. We also confirm relationships of absolute and relative brain volume with longevity (both juvenile period and reproductive lifespan) and social group size, although longevity is generally the stronger predictor. Relationships between social learning, brain volume, and longevity remain when controlling for maternal investment and are therefore not simply explained as a by-product of the generally slower life history expected for larger brained species. Our findings suggest that both brain expansion and high reliance on culturally transmitted behavior coevolved with sociality and extended lifespan in primates. This coevolution is consistent with the hypothesis that the evolution of large brains, sociality, and long lifespans has promoted reliance on culture, with reliance on culture in turn driving further increases in brain volume, cognitive abilities, and lifespans in some primate lineages.

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