For group-living primates, the information on postconflict management is crucial for understanding primate competition and cooperation. However, such information is poorly known for snub-nosed monkeys, especially for ...For group-living primates, the information on postconflict management is crucial for understanding primate competition and cooperation. However, such information is poorly known for snub-nosed monkeys, especially for wild populations. In this study, from September 2007 to June 2008, we investigated postconflict behavior among adult females Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus roxellana within one-male units in a wild, provisioned group in the Qinling Mountains of China by means of the time-rule method and the PC-MC method. We obtained a total of 81 PC-MC pairs and each individual was involved in only 0.004 aggressive behavior per observation hour. The first affiliative behavior was more likely to occur within the first minute after a conflict. The postconflict affiliative behaviors most often seen were contact-sit, embrace and grooming. The affiliative contacts between adult females occur due to selective attraction, i.e. reconciliation. The pattern of postconflict affiliation demonstrates that the R. roxellana belongs to a tolerant species.展开更多
Knowledge on the home range size of a species or population is important for understanding its behavioral and social ecology and improving the effectiveness of conservation strategies. We studied the home range size o...Knowledge on the home range size of a species or population is important for understanding its behavioral and social ecology and improving the effectiveness of conservation strategies. We studied the home range size of two different-sized groups of golden snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, China. The larger group(236 individuals)had a home range of 22.5 km2 from September2007 to July 2008, whereas the smaller group(62 individuals) occupied a home range of 12.4 km2 from November 2008 to July 2009. Both groups exhibited considerable seasonal variation in their home range size, which was likely due to seasonal changes in food availability and distribution. The home range in any given season(winter, spring, summer, or winter+spring+summer) of the larger group was larger than that of the smaller group. As the two groups were studied in the same area, with the confounding effects of food availability thus minimized, the positive relationship between home range size and group size suggested that scramble feeding competition increased within the larger group.展开更多
In primate species with social systems consisting of one-male breeding units （OMUs）, resident male takeover represents a major challenge to individual reproductive success and mating strategies. The golden snub-nose...In primate species with social systems consisting of one-male breeding units （OMUs）, resident male takeover represents a major challenge to individual reproductive success and mating strategies. The golden snub-nosed monkey （Rhinopithecus roxellana） is characterized by large multilevel societies （MLS） comprised of several OMUs and all-male units （AMUs）; however, the factors and mechanisms associated with resident male takeover, which offer important insight into primate reproduction and social strategies, are still poorly understood. Based on 5-year monitoring data from a free-ranging herd of golden monkeys from the Qinling Mountains in China, we categorized three phases of an OMU, that is, a rising phase, developing phase, and declining phase. The rising and declining phases were unstable periods in which male takeover in an OMU might occur. Factors causing takeover, such as leader male rank, fighting ability, reproduction rate, and affiliation （proximity, allogrooming）, were analyzed for males and females and for different OMUs. Results indicated that the new resident male＇s fighting ability was lower than that of the former resident male in 23 cases. After replacement, the rank order of the new resident male significantly declined. Females involved in a takeover increased their distance from the resident male and decreased mating frequency during the three months prior to takeover. Females with infants under one-year-old had a marked effect on the specific time of takeover occurrence. These results suggested that female choice was the main factor deciding whether a takeover attempt was successful. Furthermore, rather than male conflict, females more often initiated and affected takeover and outcome, implying that the social status and competitive ability of the males played lesser roles during takeover.展开更多
Growth hormone gene (GH) ofRhinopithecus roxellanae was amplified by PCR based on the sequences of the reported mammalian growth hormone gene for the first time. The amplified fragment was about 1.8 kb. It was cloned ...Growth hormone gene (GH) ofRhinopithecus roxellanae was amplified by PCR based on the sequences of the reported mammalian growth hormone gene for the first time. The amplified fragment was about 1.8 kb. It was cloned and its upper stream was sequenced. This sequencing region consists of a 5′flanking regulatory region, exon I and part of exon II, intron I of growth hormone gene. Comparing the corresponding sequences of growth hormone gene betweenRhinopithecus roxellanae and the porcine, we concluded that the homology reached 81% in the region, and there was high conservation in the 5′flanking sequence. The kinds of amino acids of exon I and exon II for about 90% were the same to those in pig. Many mutations occurred in the degenerate site of the triplet code. In the nucleotides of intron I, there were only 72% homologies with those in pig. It means that introns and 3′flanking sequence maybe play an important part in growth hormone gene regulation of the different animals.展开更多
The dynamics of animal social structures are heavily influenced by environmental patterns of competition and cooperation.In folivorous colobine primates,prevailing theories suggest that larger group sizes should be fa...The dynamics of animal social structures are heavily influenced by environmental patterns of competition and cooperation.In folivorous colobine primates,prevailing theories suggest that larger group sizes should be favored in rainforests with a year-round abundance of food,thereby reducing feeding competition.Yet,paradoxically,larger groups are frequently found in high-altitude or high-latitude montane ecosystems characterized by a seasonal scarcity of leaves.This contradiction is posited to arise from cooperative benefits in heterogeneous environments.To investigate this hypothesis,we carried out a six-year field study on two neighboring groups of golden snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana),a species representing the northernmost distribution of colobine primates.Results showed that the groups adjusted their movement and habitat selection in response to fluctuating climates and spatiotemporal variability of resources,indicative of a dynamic foraging strategy.Notably,during the cold,resource-scarce conditions in winter,the large group occupied food-rich habitats but did not exhibit significantly longer daily travel distances than the smaller neighboring group.Subsequently,we compiled an eco-behavioral dataset of 52 colobine species to explore their evolutionary trajectories.Analysis of this dataset suggested that the increase in group size may have evolved via home range expansion in response to the cold and heterogeneous climates found at higher altitudes or latitudes.Hence,we developed a multi-benefits framework to interpret the formation of larger groups by integrating environmental heterogeneity.In cold and diverse environments,even smaller groups require larger home ranges to meet their dynamic survival needs.The spatiotemporal distribution of high-quality resources within these expanded home ranges facilitates more frequent interactions between groups,thereby encouraging social aggregation into larger groups.This process enhances the benefits of collaborative actions and reproductive opportunities,while simultaneously optimizing travel costs through a dynamic foraging strategy.展开更多
川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)是旧大陆猴,隶属于猴科(Cercopithecidae)疣猴亚科(Colobinae)仰鼻猴属(Rhinopithecus),是我国特有的三种金丝猴之一(向左甫,2020)。尽管川金丝猴交配行为全年存在,但出生却表现明显季节性特点(Xiang ...川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)是旧大陆猴,隶属于猴科(Cercopithecidae)疣猴亚科(Colobinae)仰鼻猴属(Rhinopithecus),是我国特有的三种金丝猴之一(向左甫,2020)。尽管川金丝猴交配行为全年存在,但出生却表现明显季节性特点(Xiang et al.,2017;陆展滔等,2024)。研究表明,季节性繁殖的灵长类动物猕猴(Macaca mulatta)(Waitt et al.,2003)和滇金丝猴(Rhinopithecus bieti)(Grueter et al.,2015)面部颜色均具有季节性变化。展开更多
Since reconciliation was first described more than 20 years ago, a large number of postconflict be- haviors have been observed among females in many polygynous primate species. However, few studies have been conducted...Since reconciliation was first described more than 20 years ago, a large number of postconflict be- haviors have been observed among females in many polygynous primate species. However, few studies have been conducted among males, perhaps due to the rarity with which they maintain friendly relationships with one another and their aggressive competition for resources. Although this is true for many primate males, Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus roxellana represent a potential exception as male cooperation has been known to occur. In this study, using postconfiict/ matched-control（PC-MC） and time-rule methods, we analyzed postconflict behavior among males and the possible occurrence of bystander affiliation or reconciliation. A total of 246 PC-MC pairs among leader males were obtained. On average, each leader male exhibited only 0.04 aggressive be- haviors per observation hour, and conciliation among leader males occurred at a low rate （2.03%） relative to other primate species. The occurrence of consolation-affiliation interactions between focal males and group members other than former opponents differed significantly between PCs and MCs, which is the first time this has been confirmed among R. roxellana males. We discuss the results in light of recent theories concerning consolation in primates. The patterns of postconflict contact demonstrated that R. roxellana may be a unique species among colobines.展开更多
We studied the responsiveness of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana, an arboreal Old World monkey, to the presence of novel stimuli associated with familiar food. We also determined differences in r...We studied the responsiveness of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana, an arboreal Old World monkey, to the presence of novel stimuli associated with familiar food. We also determined differences in responses by age and sex. Results showed that monkeys exhibited neophilia and neophobia simultaneously when facing novel stimuli. Age affected the response to novel stimuli significantly, with immature individuals responding to novel stimuli most frequently and infants least frequently. No significant differences were observed for sex, although females were more responsive to the novel object than were males. Our results support the ＂readiness to eat＂ hypothesis that the presence of a novel object can increase latencies to consume familiar food .展开更多
Although there are some reports that have described primates eating animals,it is unknown whether predation on vertebrates exists in herbivorous leaf-eating primates.We have witnessed firsthand wild Sichuan snub-nosed...Although there are some reports that have described primates eating animals,it is unknown whether predation on vertebrates exists in herbivorous leaf-eating primates.We have witnessed firsthand wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana)preying on and consuming Eurasian blackbirds(Turdus merula)in the Qinling Mountains of China.This event suggests that R.roxellana,which has previously been described as a herbivorous leaf-eating primate,may be partially carnivorous and the correct classification of this species would be omnivorous.Furthermore,food-share behavior among higher-ranked members occurs in a one-male unit when vertebrate prey is hunted by this species.展开更多
The highly polymorphic genes within the major histocompatibility complex(MHC)not only play a major role in immunity resistance,but also seem to provide hints for mate choice in some animal populations.In the pres...The highly polymorphic genes within the major histocompatibility complex(MHC)not only play a major role in immunity resistance,but also seem to provide hints for mate choice in some animal populations.In the present study we investigated MHC-related mate choice in a small natural population(group size 40-55 individuals)of a polygynous primate,the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana).We found that there was no evidence either for MHC-disassortative mating,or for females to mate with males based on MHC heterozygosity or specific alleles.Nevertheless,of the 11 alleles identified,we found that the frequencies of 2 alleles,Rhro-DRB2(P<0.01)and Rhro-DRB5(P<0.05)were higher in offspring than in their parents.These findings suggest that MHC-DRB in this population of R.roxellana is unlikely to be associated with mating preferences.Limited female opportunities for mate choice are likely due,in part,to the harem breeding structure present in R.roxellana,and the relatively small number of resident adult males in our study band(N=4-6).In addition,we suggest that differences in the frequency of particular alleles across generations may be linked to parasite resistance in a fluctuating environment;however,confirmation of this finding requires further study.展开更多
Dominance hierarchy reflects resource competition in male primates as well as females.In this study,we collected data on the social rank and mating competition of female Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys from September 2009 ...Dominance hierarchy reflects resource competition in male primates as well as females.In this study,we collected data on the social rank and mating competition of female Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys from September 2009 to June 2010 in the Qinling Mountains,Shaanxi,China.Displacement was used to determine social hierarchy of the studied wild females.A total of 1223 displacement bouts between adult females and 316 mating behaviors within one-male units(OMUs) were recorded.Competitive displacement among females was very low(0.22 displacements per observation hour).The dominant ranks of females in target OMUs were determined by displacement,from one OMU to another:JB unit:YL > DBC > YCM >XBC > BD;JZT unit:XHW > JG > DT;PK unit:QQ > TM > HF;LP unit:SK > TH > WM.Higher-ranking females performed significantly more sexual behavior than lower-ranking females in this rare monkey.High-ranking females were more likely to win mating contests within those OMUs.Based on these studies,we assessed the social relationships among adult females and clarified possible explanations for the strategies of female mating competition in the OMUs.Furthermore,the notion that reproductive success may also be related to female dominance hierarchies in this polygynous species should be considered in future research.展开更多
The effects of individual removal by zoo managers on behavior and fecal glucocorticoid changes in snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana) were investigated at Beijing Zoo.The results showed that the effect of the ...The effects of individual removal by zoo managers on behavior and fecal glucocorticoid changes in snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana) were investigated at Beijing Zoo.The results showed that the effect of the removal of three subordinate individuals(DD,male,4 years;XZZ,male,3 years and LL,female,3 years) from a group varied across the remaining group members that may be related to individual's social status,gender and age.The dominant male was impacted less than subordinate individuals in both the frequency and time duration for the four main behavioral categories.The frequency of stereotypic behavior significantly decreased in the dominant female after the removal of three animals(Z= 2.862,P=0.003).Fluctuations were found in both the behavioral frequency and time duration in other remaining individuals.These findings suggest that small,socially stable groups were somewhat resilient to changes in member composition.Moreover,the cortisol level did not change significantly in the remaining members.An alternative method of hormone assay using fecal samples for vulnerable animals was presented,and that may be useful for monitoring wild golden monkeys and other endangered species of animal.展开更多
基金The Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30970444, No. 30770375, No. 30630016)the Cosmo Oil Eco Card Fund of Japan (2005-2010) support
文摘For group-living primates, the information on postconflict management is crucial for understanding primate competition and cooperation. However, such information is poorly known for snub-nosed monkeys, especially for wild populations. In this study, from September 2007 to June 2008, we investigated postconflict behavior among adult females Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus roxellana within one-male units in a wild, provisioned group in the Qinling Mountains of China by means of the time-rule method and the PC-MC method. We obtained a total of 81 PC-MC pairs and each individual was involved in only 0.004 aggressive behavior per observation hour. The first affiliative behavior was more likely to occur within the first minute after a conflict. The postconflict affiliative behaviors most often seen were contact-sit, embrace and grooming. The affiliative contacts between adult females occur due to selective attraction, i.e. reconciliation. The pattern of postconflict affiliation demonstrates that the R. roxellana belongs to a tolerant species.
基金supported by the Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation Biology of Snub-nosed Monkeys,Scientific Research Grant for Youth Scholars from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,L.S.B.Leakey Foundation,and Primate Conservation Inc.
文摘Knowledge on the home range size of a species or population is important for understanding its behavioral and social ecology and improving the effectiveness of conservation strategies. We studied the home range size of two different-sized groups of golden snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, China. The larger group(236 individuals)had a home range of 22.5 km2 from September2007 to July 2008, whereas the smaller group(62 individuals) occupied a home range of 12.4 km2 from November 2008 to July 2009. Both groups exhibited considerable seasonal variation in their home range size, which was likely due to seasonal changes in food availability and distribution. The home range in any given season(winter, spring, summer, or winter+spring+summer) of the larger group was larger than that of the smaller group. As the two groups were studied in the same area, with the confounding effects of food availability thus minimized, the positive relationship between home range size and group size suggested that scramble feeding competition increased within the larger group.
基金funded by the National Science Foundation of China(31470455,31622053,31730104)National Key Program of Research and Development,Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2016YFC0503200)Northwest University Graduate Innovation and Creativity Funds(YZZ17156)
文摘In primate species with social systems consisting of one-male breeding units （OMUs）, resident male takeover represents a major challenge to individual reproductive success and mating strategies. The golden snub-nosed monkey （Rhinopithecus roxellana） is characterized by large multilevel societies （MLS） comprised of several OMUs and all-male units （AMUs）; however, the factors and mechanisms associated with resident male takeover, which offer important insight into primate reproduction and social strategies, are still poorly understood. Based on 5-year monitoring data from a free-ranging herd of golden monkeys from the Qinling Mountains in China, we categorized three phases of an OMU, that is, a rising phase, developing phase, and declining phase. The rising and declining phases were unstable periods in which male takeover in an OMU might occur. Factors causing takeover, such as leader male rank, fighting ability, reproduction rate, and affiliation （proximity, allogrooming）, were analyzed for males and females and for different OMUs. Results indicated that the new resident male＇s fighting ability was lower than that of the former resident male in 23 cases. After replacement, the rank order of the new resident male significantly declined. Females involved in a takeover increased their distance from the resident male and decreased mating frequency during the three months prior to takeover. Females with infants under one-year-old had a marked effect on the specific time of takeover occurrence. These results suggested that female choice was the main factor deciding whether a takeover attempt was successful. Furthermore, rather than male conflict, females more often initiated and affected takeover and outcome, implying that the social status and competitive ability of the males played lesser roles during takeover.
文摘Growth hormone gene (GH) ofRhinopithecus roxellanae was amplified by PCR based on the sequences of the reported mammalian growth hormone gene for the first time. The amplified fragment was about 1.8 kb. It was cloned and its upper stream was sequenced. This sequencing region consists of a 5′flanking regulatory region, exon I and part of exon II, intron I of growth hormone gene. Comparing the corresponding sequences of growth hormone gene betweenRhinopithecus roxellanae and the porcine, we concluded that the homology reached 81% in the region, and there was high conservation in the 5′flanking sequence. The kinds of amino acids of exon I and exon II for about 90% were the same to those in pig. Many mutations occurred in the degenerate site of the triplet code. In the nucleotides of intron I, there were only 72% homologies with those in pig. It means that introns and 3′flanking sequence maybe play an important part in growth hormone gene regulation of the different animals.
基金supported by the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment,China(2019HJ2096001006)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32001099,32170512,32370524)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020M683539)。
文摘The dynamics of animal social structures are heavily influenced by environmental patterns of competition and cooperation.In folivorous colobine primates,prevailing theories suggest that larger group sizes should be favored in rainforests with a year-round abundance of food,thereby reducing feeding competition.Yet,paradoxically,larger groups are frequently found in high-altitude or high-latitude montane ecosystems characterized by a seasonal scarcity of leaves.This contradiction is posited to arise from cooperative benefits in heterogeneous environments.To investigate this hypothesis,we carried out a six-year field study on two neighboring groups of golden snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana),a species representing the northernmost distribution of colobine primates.Results showed that the groups adjusted their movement and habitat selection in response to fluctuating climates and spatiotemporal variability of resources,indicative of a dynamic foraging strategy.Notably,during the cold,resource-scarce conditions in winter,the large group occupied food-rich habitats but did not exhibit significantly longer daily travel distances than the smaller neighboring group.Subsequently,we compiled an eco-behavioral dataset of 52 colobine species to explore their evolutionary trajectories.Analysis of this dataset suggested that the increase in group size may have evolved via home range expansion in response to the cold and heterogeneous climates found at higher altitudes or latitudes.Hence,we developed a multi-benefits framework to interpret the formation of larger groups by integrating environmental heterogeneity.In cold and diverse environments,even smaller groups require larger home ranges to meet their dynamic survival needs.The spatiotemporal distribution of high-quality resources within these expanded home ranges facilitates more frequent interactions between groups,thereby encouraging social aggregation into larger groups.This process enhances the benefits of collaborative actions and reproductive opportunities,while simultaneously optimizing travel costs through a dynamic foraging strategy.
文摘川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)是旧大陆猴,隶属于猴科(Cercopithecidae)疣猴亚科(Colobinae)仰鼻猴属(Rhinopithecus),是我国特有的三种金丝猴之一(向左甫,2020)。尽管川金丝猴交配行为全年存在,但出生却表现明显季节性特点(Xiang et al.,2017;陆展滔等,2024)。研究表明,季节性繁殖的灵长类动物猕猴(Macaca mulatta)(Waitt et al.,2003)和滇金丝猴(Rhinopithecus bieti)(Grueter et al.,2015)面部颜色均具有季节性变化。
文摘Since reconciliation was first described more than 20 years ago, a large number of postconflict be- haviors have been observed among females in many polygynous primate species. However, few studies have been conducted among males, perhaps due to the rarity with which they maintain friendly relationships with one another and their aggressive competition for resources. Although this is true for many primate males, Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus roxellana represent a potential exception as male cooperation has been known to occur. In this study, using postconfiict/ matched-control（PC-MC） and time-rule methods, we analyzed postconflict behavior among males and the possible occurrence of bystander affiliation or reconciliation. A total of 246 PC-MC pairs among leader males were obtained. On average, each leader male exhibited only 0.04 aggressive be- haviors per observation hour, and conciliation among leader males occurred at a low rate （2.03%） relative to other primate species. The occurrence of consolation-affiliation interactions between focal males and group members other than former opponents differed significantly between PCs and MCs, which is the first time this has been confirmed among R. roxellana males. We discuss the results in light of recent theories concerning consolation in primates. The patterns of postconflict contact demonstrated that R. roxellana may be a unique species among colobines.
基金We are grateful to the Director and staff of Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve for their permission to conduct this research. We appreciate Gou ST, Zhang P, Zhu WW, Ren Y, Zhang D, Huang K, Zhang HY, Wu LL, Wang XW, Zhao HT, and Wang CL for their help during the study. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No.31130061, No30970444., No.31200293）, the Talent Introduction Fund of Tianjin Nor- mal University （No.5RLII5）, and the Cosmo Oil Eco Card Fund of Japan （2005-2012）.
文摘We studied the responsiveness of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana, an arboreal Old World monkey, to the presence of novel stimuli associated with familiar food. We also determined differences in responses by age and sex. Results showed that monkeys exhibited neophilia and neophobia simultaneously when facing novel stimuli. Age affected the response to novel stimuli significantly, with immature individuals responding to novel stimuli most frequently and infants least frequently. No significant differences were observed for sex, although females were more responsive to the novel object than were males. Our results support the ＂readiness to eat＂ hypothesis that the presence of a novel object can increase latencies to consume familiar food .
基金on-going operating grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30770375,No.30570312 and No.30630016)the Cosmo Oil Eco Card Fund of Japan(2005–2010).
文摘Although there are some reports that have described primates eating animals,it is unknown whether predation on vertebrates exists in herbivorous leaf-eating primates.We have witnessed firsthand wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana)preying on and consuming Eurasian blackbirds(Turdus merula)in the Qinling Mountains of China.This event suggests that R.roxellana,which has previously been described as a herbivorous leaf-eating primate,may be partially carnivorous and the correct classification of this species would be omnivorous.Furthermore,food-share behavior among higher-ranked members occurs in a one-male unit when vertebrate prey is hunted by this species.
基金This project was supported by the Project of Public Benefit(No.201104073)the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30970427,31130061)the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(2013BAD03B02).
文摘The highly polymorphic genes within the major histocompatibility complex(MHC)not only play a major role in immunity resistance,but also seem to provide hints for mate choice in some animal populations.In the present study we investigated MHC-related mate choice in a small natural population(group size 40-55 individuals)of a polygynous primate,the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana).We found that there was no evidence either for MHC-disassortative mating,or for females to mate with males based on MHC heterozygosity or specific alleles.Nevertheless,of the 11 alleles identified,we found that the frequencies of 2 alleles,Rhro-DRB2(P<0.01)and Rhro-DRB5(P<0.05)were higher in offspring than in their parents.These findings suggest that MHC-DRB in this population of R.roxellana is unlikely to be associated with mating preferences.Limited female opportunities for mate choice are likely due,in part,to the harem breeding structure present in R.roxellana,and the relatively small number of resident adult males in our study band(N=4-6).In addition,we suggest that differences in the frequency of particular alleles across generations may be linked to parasite resistance in a fluctuating environment;however,confirmation of this finding requires further study.
基金supported by the Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (31130061)National Natural Science Foundation of China (30970444,30970168,30970379)+4 种基金Special Foundation of Shaanxi Academy of Sciences,China (2010K-01)Western Light Talent Culture Project (2011DF05)Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20106101110005)Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province China (2010JM3006)Cosmo Oil Eco Card Fund of Japan (2005-2012)
文摘Dominance hierarchy reflects resource competition in male primates as well as females.In this study,we collected data on the social rank and mating competition of female Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys from September 2009 to June 2010 in the Qinling Mountains,Shaanxi,China.Displacement was used to determine social hierarchy of the studied wild females.A total of 1223 displacement bouts between adult females and 316 mating behaviors within one-male units(OMUs) were recorded.Competitive displacement among females was very low(0.22 displacements per observation hour).The dominant ranks of females in target OMUs were determined by displacement,from one OMU to another:JB unit:YL > DBC > YCM >XBC > BD;JZT unit:XHW > JG > DT;PK unit:QQ > TM > HF;LP unit:SK > TH > WM.Higher-ranking females performed significantly more sexual behavior than lower-ranking females in this rare monkey.High-ranking females were more likely to win mating contests within those OMUs.Based on these studies,we assessed the social relationships among adult females and clarified possible explanations for the strategies of female mating competition in the OMUs.Furthermore,the notion that reproductive success may also be related to female dominance hierarchies in this polygynous species should be considered in future research.
基金supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (5082011)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30470233)Centre of Analysis & Measurement of Beijing Normal University
文摘The effects of individual removal by zoo managers on behavior and fecal glucocorticoid changes in snub-nosed monkeys(Rhinopithecus roxellana) were investigated at Beijing Zoo.The results showed that the effect of the removal of three subordinate individuals(DD,male,4 years;XZZ,male,3 years and LL,female,3 years) from a group varied across the remaining group members that may be related to individual's social status,gender and age.The dominant male was impacted less than subordinate individuals in both the frequency and time duration for the four main behavioral categories.The frequency of stereotypic behavior significantly decreased in the dominant female after the removal of three animals(Z= 2.862,P=0.003).Fluctuations were found in both the behavioral frequency and time duration in other remaining individuals.These findings suggest that small,socially stable groups were somewhat resilient to changes in member composition.Moreover,the cortisol level did not change significantly in the remaining members.An alternative method of hormone assay using fecal samples for vulnerable animals was presented,and that may be useful for monitoring wild golden monkeys and other endangered species of animal.
