Although seasonal breeding has been documented in many non-human primates, it is not clear whether sexual behaviors show seasonal variation among male individuals. To test this hypothesis, the focal animal sampling me...Although seasonal breeding has been documented in many non-human primates, it is not clear whether sexual behaviors show seasonal variation among male individuals. To test this hypothesis, the focal animal sampling method and continuous recording were used to investigate seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in five male Tibetan macaques （Macaca thibetana） at Mt. Huangshan from Oct 2005 to Sept 2006. Both copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors （i.e., sexual chase, grimace, and sexual-inspection）, which were significantly higher in the mating season than non-mating season. Furthermore, seasonal variations of sexual behaviors, including copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors, were synchronized among males. The results shed light on sexual competition and tactics for reproductive success of male M. thibetana and other non-human primates with seasonal breeding.展开更多
Self-directed behavior(SDB) is characterized as an indicator of anxiety, frustration and stress in nonhuman primates. In this study, we collected self-directed behavior data from one group of free-ranging Tibetan maca...Self-directed behavior(SDB) is characterized as an indicator of anxiety, frustration and stress in nonhuman primates. In this study, we collected self-directed behavior data from one group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China(September 2012–May 2013) using a combination of behavioral sampling methods including focal animal sampling, behavioral sampling, continuous sampling and instantaneous sampling. Our results showed that females engaged in significantly higher rates of self-directed behavior when they were in proximity to dominant individuals compared to subordinate ones. Conflict losers significantly increased their SDB rates after agonistic episodes, indicating that SDB might also serve as an index of anxiety in M. thibetana. We further found that females significantly increased their SDB rates when focal individual was proximity to weakly affiliation relationship higher rank members than to strongly affiliation relationship higher rank members. If conflicts were not reconciled, the postconflict SDB rates of losers were higher when they stayed with strongly affiliation opponents; if conflicts were reconciled, victims of strongly affiliation relationships opponents engaged in more SDB rates before reconciliation than after reconciliation, while victims of moderately affiliation relationships opponents did not engaged in more SDB rates before reconciliation than after reconciliation. We conclude that both of dominance rank and affiliation relationships might both influence the SDB rates of female Tibetan macaques significantly, suggesting that SDB is not only an index of anxiety in Tibetan macaques, but also can provide a new insight into evaluation of social relationships between individuals.展开更多
Though females are generally more selective in mate choice, males may also benefit from mate choice if male reproductive success is limited by factors other than simply the number of female mates, and if females diffe...Though females are generally more selective in mate choice, males may also benefit from mate choice if male reproductive success is limited by factors other than simply the number of female mates, and if females differ in short-term reproductive potential. We studied male mate choice in a free-ranging troop of Tibetan macaques Macaca thibetana at Mt. Huangshan, China, from August 2007 to April 2008. We employed focal animal sampling and all occurrence sampling to record sexual related behaviors. Eight adult females were divided into three female quality categories according to the females＇ age, rank and parity. Using male mating effort as a proxy for male mate choice, we found that males do distinguish female quality and show time-variant mating strategies. Specifically, females with dominant rank, high fecundity, and middle age attracted significantly more males. Our results suggest that female short-term reproductive potential appears to be an important variable in determining male mating effort. Male Tibetan macaques do exercise mate choice for higher quality females as well as reduce useless reproductive cost, which is consistent with the direct benefits theory of mate choice.展开更多
Play behaviors and signals during playful interactions with juvenile conspecifics are important for both the social and cognitive development of young animals. The social organization of a species can also influence j...Play behaviors and signals during playful interactions with juvenile conspecifics are important for both the social and cognitive development of young animals. The social organization of a species can also influence juvenile social play. We examined the relationships among play behaviors, candidate play signals, and play bout termination in Tibetan macaques （Macaca thibetana） during juvenile and infant social play to characterize the species play style. As Tibetan macaques are despotic and live in groups with strict linear dominance hierarchies and infrequent reconciliation, we predicted that play would be at risk of misinterpretation by both the individuals engaged in the play bout and by those watching, possibly leading to injury of the players. Animals living in such societies might need to frequently and clearly signal playful intent to play partners and other group members to avoid aggressive outcomes. We gathered video data on 21 individually-identified juvenile and infant macaques （one month to five years of age） from the Valley of the Wild Monkeys, Mt. Huangshan, China. We used all-occurrence sampling to record play behaviors and candidate play signals based on an ethogram. We predicted that play groups would use multiple candidate play signals in a variety of contexts and in association with the number of audience members in proximity to the players and play bout length. In the 283 playful interactions we scored,juvenile and infant macaques used multiple body and facial candidate play signals. Our data showed that juvenile and infant Tibetan macaques use a versatile repertoire of play behaviors and signals to sustain play展开更多
In some non-human primates, infants function as a social tool that can bridge relationships among group members. Infants are a desired commodity for group members, and mothers control access to them. The biological ma...In some non-human primates, infants function as a social tool that can bridge relationships among group members. Infants are a desired commodity for group members, and mothers control access to them. The biological market theory suggests that grooming is widespread and represents a commodity that can be exchanged for infant handling. As a limited resource, however, the extent to which infants are interchanged between mothers(females with an infant) and non-mothers(potential handlers,females without an infant) remains unclear. In this study, we collected behavioral data to investigate the relationship between grooming and infant handling in free-ranging Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana)at Mt. Huangshan, China. Our results showed that females with infants received more grooming than females without infants. After her infant was handled,mother females received more grooming than they did during daily grooming interactions. However, with the increasing number of infants within the social group, both the grooming that mothers received and the grooming that non-mothers invested for handling infants decreased. We also found that non-mothers invested more time in grooming to gain access to younger infants than older infants. Our results provide evidence that infants are social commodities for both mother and non-mother females. Mothers use infants for obtain grooming and non-mothers use grooming to gain access to infants. The current study implies a bidirectional and complex interchange pattern between grooming and infant handling to compensate for the dyadic grooming disparity in non-human primates.展开更多
有效性比(operational sex ratio,OSR)是指性成熟雄性数量与发情雌性数量的比值,可作为测量性选择强度的指标。本文对两种有效性比的黄山短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)鱼鳞坑YA1群和YA2群成年雄性在交配期(2007年8—12月)内的繁殖行为和攻...有效性比(operational sex ratio,OSR)是指性成熟雄性数量与发情雌性数量的比值,可作为测量性选择强度的指标。本文对两种有效性比的黄山短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)鱼鳞坑YA1群和YA2群成年雄性在交配期(2007年8—12月)内的繁殖行为和攻击行为进行研究,采用目标动物取样法、随机取样法和连续记录法记录行为,探讨有效性比对雄性黄山短尾猴交配竞争的影响。研究期间,YA1群的有效性比为0.4:1,YA2群的有效性比为0.9:1,YA2群的有效性比大于YA1群。在繁殖行为上,高顺位成年雄性的性检查、做鬼脸、性追赶和交配行为在两群间均存在显著差异,YA1群高于YA2群(P<0.01);中等顺位成年雄性的性检查、做鬼脸、性追赶在两群间均存在显著差异,YA1群高于YA2群(P<0.01),交配行为在两群间存在显著差异,YA1群高于YA2群(P<0.05);低顺位成年雄性在两群间不存在显著差异。在攻击行为上,高顺位成年雄性在两群间存在显著差异,YA2群高于YA1群(P<0.01);中等顺位成年雄性在两群间存在显著差异,YA2群高于YA1群(P<0.05);YA1群低顺位成年雄性攻击行为发生频次为零。结果表明,雄雌有效性比越大,雄性黄山短尾猴的交配机会越少,繁殖行为发生频次下降,竞争压力增大,攻击行为频次上升,因此YA2群成年雄性交配竞争强度高于YA1群。本研究结果支持性选择理论中有效性比对交配竞争作用的预测。展开更多
文摘Although seasonal breeding has been documented in many non-human primates, it is not clear whether sexual behaviors show seasonal variation among male individuals. To test this hypothesis, the focal animal sampling method and continuous recording were used to investigate seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in five male Tibetan macaques （Macaca thibetana） at Mt. Huangshan from Oct 2005 to Sept 2006. Both copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors （i.e., sexual chase, grimace, and sexual-inspection）, which were significantly higher in the mating season than non-mating season. Furthermore, seasonal variations of sexual behaviors, including copulatory and sexually motivated behaviors, were synchronized among males. The results shed light on sexual competition and tactics for reproductive success of male M. thibetana and other non-human primates with seasonal breeding.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(31172106,31372215)the Program of University Innovation Team of Anhui Province(TD200703)+1 种基金the Specialized Research Fund for the Master’s Program of Higher Education(01001770-10117700618)the Science Foundation of Anhui Province(1408085QC56)
文摘Self-directed behavior(SDB) is characterized as an indicator of anxiety, frustration and stress in nonhuman primates. In this study, we collected self-directed behavior data from one group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China(September 2012–May 2013) using a combination of behavioral sampling methods including focal animal sampling, behavioral sampling, continuous sampling and instantaneous sampling. Our results showed that females engaged in significantly higher rates of self-directed behavior when they were in proximity to dominant individuals compared to subordinate ones. Conflict losers significantly increased their SDB rates after agonistic episodes, indicating that SDB might also serve as an index of anxiety in M. thibetana. We further found that females significantly increased their SDB rates when focal individual was proximity to weakly affiliation relationship higher rank members than to strongly affiliation relationship higher rank members. If conflicts were not reconciled, the postconflict SDB rates of losers were higher when they stayed with strongly affiliation opponents; if conflicts were reconciled, victims of strongly affiliation relationships opponents engaged in more SDB rates before reconciliation than after reconciliation, while victims of moderately affiliation relationships opponents did not engaged in more SDB rates before reconciliation than after reconciliation. We conclude that both of dominance rank and affiliation relationships might both influence the SDB rates of female Tibetan macaques significantly, suggesting that SDB is not only an index of anxiety in Tibetan macaques, but also can provide a new insight into evaluation of social relationships between individuals.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30570237)Outstanding Youth Foundation of Anhui (No.040443070)+1 种基金Technological Innovation team of Anhui Education Bureau (TD200703)Talent Development Foundation of Anhui, Academic Innovation team of Anhui University
文摘Though females are generally more selective in mate choice, males may also benefit from mate choice if male reproductive success is limited by factors other than simply the number of female mates, and if females differ in short-term reproductive potential. We studied male mate choice in a free-ranging troop of Tibetan macaques Macaca thibetana at Mt. Huangshan, China, from August 2007 to April 2008. We employed focal animal sampling and all occurrence sampling to record sexual related behaviors. Eight adult females were divided into three female quality categories according to the females＇ age, rank and parity. Using male mating effort as a proxy for male mate choice, we found that males do distinguish female quality and show time-variant mating strategies. Specifically, females with dominant rank, high fecundity, and middle age attracted significantly more males. Our results suggest that female short-term reproductive potential appears to be an important variable in determining male mating effort. Male Tibetan macaques do exercise mate choice for higher quality females as well as reduce useless reproductive cost, which is consistent with the direct benefits theory of mate choice.
基金supported by grants from Debra and Arlen Prentice,Central Washington University School of Graduate Studies and Research,National Science Foundation(NSF)International Research Experiences for Students(IRES)(OISE1065589)National Science Foundation of China(31372215,31672307)
文摘Play behaviors and signals during playful interactions with juvenile conspecifics are important for both the social and cognitive development of young animals. The social organization of a species can also influence juvenile social play. We examined the relationships among play behaviors, candidate play signals, and play bout termination in Tibetan macaques （Macaca thibetana） during juvenile and infant social play to characterize the species play style. As Tibetan macaques are despotic and live in groups with strict linear dominance hierarchies and infrequent reconciliation, we predicted that play would be at risk of misinterpretation by both the individuals engaged in the play bout and by those watching, possibly leading to injury of the players. Animals living in such societies might need to frequently and clearly signal playful intent to play partners and other group members to avoid aggressive outcomes. We gathered video data on 21 individually-identified juvenile and infant macaques （one month to five years of age） from the Valley of the Wild Monkeys, Mt. Huangshan, China. We used all-occurrence sampling to record play behaviors and candidate play signals based on an ethogram. We predicted that play groups would use multiple candidate play signals in a variety of contexts and in association with the number of audience members in proximity to the players and play bout length. In the 283 playful interactions we scored,juvenile and infant macaques used multiple body and facial candidate play signals. Our data showed that juvenile and infant Tibetan macaques use a versatile repertoire of play behaviors and signals to sustain play
基金supported in part by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31772475 31672307+1 种基金31401981 31372215)
文摘In some non-human primates, infants function as a social tool that can bridge relationships among group members. Infants are a desired commodity for group members, and mothers control access to them. The biological market theory suggests that grooming is widespread and represents a commodity that can be exchanged for infant handling. As a limited resource, however, the extent to which infants are interchanged between mothers(females with an infant) and non-mothers(potential handlers,females without an infant) remains unclear. In this study, we collected behavioral data to investigate the relationship between grooming and infant handling in free-ranging Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana)at Mt. Huangshan, China. Our results showed that females with infants received more grooming than females without infants. After her infant was handled,mother females received more grooming than they did during daily grooming interactions. However, with the increasing number of infants within the social group, both the grooming that mothers received and the grooming that non-mothers invested for handling infants decreased. We also found that non-mothers invested more time in grooming to gain access to younger infants than older infants. Our results provide evidence that infants are social commodities for both mother and non-mother females. Mothers use infants for obtain grooming and non-mothers use grooming to gain access to infants. The current study implies a bidirectional and complex interchange pattern between grooming and infant handling to compensate for the dyadic grooming disparity in non-human primates.
文摘有效性比(operational sex ratio,OSR)是指性成熟雄性数量与发情雌性数量的比值,可作为测量性选择强度的指标。本文对两种有效性比的黄山短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)鱼鳞坑YA1群和YA2群成年雄性在交配期(2007年8—12月)内的繁殖行为和攻击行为进行研究,采用目标动物取样法、随机取样法和连续记录法记录行为,探讨有效性比对雄性黄山短尾猴交配竞争的影响。研究期间,YA1群的有效性比为0.4:1,YA2群的有效性比为0.9:1,YA2群的有效性比大于YA1群。在繁殖行为上,高顺位成年雄性的性检查、做鬼脸、性追赶和交配行为在两群间均存在显著差异,YA1群高于YA2群(P<0.01);中等顺位成年雄性的性检查、做鬼脸、性追赶在两群间均存在显著差异,YA1群高于YA2群(P<0.01),交配行为在两群间存在显著差异,YA1群高于YA2群(P<0.05);低顺位成年雄性在两群间不存在显著差异。在攻击行为上,高顺位成年雄性在两群间存在显著差异,YA2群高于YA1群(P<0.01);中等顺位成年雄性在两群间存在显著差异,YA2群高于YA1群(P<0.05);YA1群低顺位成年雄性攻击行为发生频次为零。结果表明,雄雌有效性比越大,雄性黄山短尾猴的交配机会越少,繁殖行为发生频次下降,竞争压力增大,攻击行为频次上升,因此YA2群成年雄性交配竞争强度高于YA1群。本研究结果支持性选择理论中有效性比对交配竞争作用的预测。
