lecture 5 Flashcards
Behavioural ecology
the study of the way in which primate adapt behaviourally to the environment
Disadvantanges to studying primates in captivity
- environments can be manipulated
- regular provisioning (feeding) can cause them to forget their natural foraging patterns
- captivity can alter their activity patterns, mating patterns, and increase levels of aggression
- can be more prone to stress which causes abnormal behavior
- lack of seasonal changes can effect reproductive patterns which will effect the birth rate
- can carry pathogens that are harmful to humans
habituated
accustomed to the presence of humans
social living
predators and resources - main help and focus
- allows for lots of mating partners, increase in reproductive fitness
- protection from predators as well as other primates in the group
- helps caring for offspring
- transmission of behaviour from one member to another
larger groups
more competition
more predators
more likely to find food in a bigger group
small groups
usually found when resources are dispersed
social brain hypothesis
cognitive demands of living in complex social groups explain why primates have unusually large brains for their bodies, particularly the neocortex
negative aspects to social living
- spread disease
- competition for food and mating
- higher stress, which gives lower birth rate and higher aggression
monogamous groups
1 male and 1 female and their offspring
- little sexual dimorphism because there is less competition
- males invest more energy into offspring
- gibbons and siamangs
single-male/ multi-female
polygynous
one male mates with more than female
howler monkeys
Polyandry
1 female with more than one male
males take care of offspring
marmosets and tamarins
Multi-male/multi-female
found in areas where predation is high
high levels of sexual dimorphism
fission-fusion groups
social group who’s members change as sub-unit split apart (fission) and then join again later (fusion)
fluid membership
solidarity
being on your own, forgoing on your own and only interacting occasionally
oranugutans
philopatric
females typically
remain in birth group
males usually get kicked out so there is no interbreeding
Matrilineal
descent is traced through the female line
Dominance Hierarchies
social structures in which males and females hold positions of rank determined through competition or inheritance
- found in single-male/multi-female and multi-male/multi-female
Males attain rank through
aggression, physical strength, ability to mobilize and support their alliances
Female dominance
usually seen more stable
male dominance
rapidly changing based on body size, kinship, and other factors
zoopharmacognosy
self medication by animals with plants, soils, and other natural substances
Agonistic behaviour
threatening behaviours that are directed toward an opponent or adversary
- can be between same sex or different sex
- frequency of behaviours depend on: food resources, mating partners, and space (territory)
- can be facial expressions, gestures (baring canine teeth), or fighting
- males are face to face while females are prolonged
- patterns of injury vary by sex, rank, and age.
Affiliative behaviours
grooming and alliances
Altruistic behaviours that benefits other members of a group but it is either of no benefit to the individual engaged in it or harmful to that individual
- grooming: removes ectoparasites (parasites that live outside of the body, like on fur), reduces stress, reinforces social bonds, carrying favours such as food, sex, and protection, gaining access to infants
- occurs between lower rank and higher rank individuals, males and females, related and unrelated, and parents and their offspring
larger groups = more time spent grooming, but number of grooming partners decrease so there are stronger alliances
Alliances
Kin selection: tendency of primates to direct beneficial behaviour towards relatives living in the same group
- fosters alliances and maintains social bones
- alliances are formed for access to food resources and mating partners as well as gaining protection from predators