Dispersal, Group Formation and Kinship in the Black-Faced Lion Tamarin <b><i>(Leontopithecus caissara)</i></b>

Abstract

We report on (i) new group formation, (ii) sex differences in dispersal and (iii) dispersal distance over 6 years for 3 social groups of the black-faced lion tamarin (Leontopithecus caissara) in the vicinity of Ariri, São Paulo state, Brazil. The groups were: Bina (monitored for 74 months), BM5 (52 months) and Teca (13 months). Each group was censused once a week and monitored for 3 days each month. Mating opportunities were found to be the incentive for young adult black-faced lion tamarins to either disperse or remain in their kin group. Young adults show delayed dispersal that is related to the cooperative breeding system characteristic of the Callitrichidae and to a low population density which hinders the formation of new breeding pairs. Our findings suggest that in L. caissara (i) both sexes disperse, (ii) successful immigration is related to breeding opportunities in an existing group, (iii) female immigration motivates male emigration and the formation of new groups, and (iv) emigrants tend to form new groups close to their natal groups. These patterns of dispersal and formation of new groups are efficient because the species has been able to avoid loss of genetic diversity despite their small population size.

Dispersal behaviour of African wild dogs in Kenya

“…Individuals' decisions to leave or join specific social groups influence group size, which can have pervasive impacts on the survival and reproductive success of other group members, ultimately contributing to population dynamics (Bateman, Ozgul, Coulson, & Clutton‐Brock, ; Ebensperger & Hayes, ). Dispersers are often the animals that found new social groups (Nascimento, Nali, & da Fonseca, ), and the animals left when groups disband (Stokes, Parnell, & Olejniczak, ). Dispersing animals often travel relatively long distances (Fattebert, Dickerson, Balme, Slotow, & Hunter, ), maintaining gene flow between subpopulations (Riley et al, ) and contributing to metapopulation persistence (Sutherland, Elston, & Lambin, ).…”

Individual dispersal decisions affect fitness via maternal rank effects in male rhesus macaques

“…In primates, leaving or staying in the natal group has been related to group size and composition, whereby male dispersal in many species seems to be driven by the resulting mating opportunities (e.g. white-faced capuchins Cebus capucinus 14; savanna baboons Papio cynocephalus spp 15; black-faced lion tamarins Leontopithecus caissara 16). In female-dispersing mountain gorillas ( Gorilla beringei beringei ), on the other hand, natal dispersal appeared to be driven by infanticide avoidance, with natal females being more likely to leave one-male groups, where infanticide risk is higher than in multi-male groups17.…”

Intergroup food transfers in wild golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia)

“…Furthermore, males and females use different strategies to emigrate: males are more likely to immigrate into established groups, whereas females are more likely to form new groups (Romano et al 2019 ), and are also more likely to inherit their natal territory than males (Baker and Dietz 1996 ). Leaving the natal group for reproduction is very risky for tamarins, but encounters with neighbouring groups provide opportunities to identify potential sexual partners or new group members (Nascimento et al 2014 ). Food transfers between individuals of different groups could therefore be used to create a social bond prior to immigration, which could either facilitate acceptance and reduce aggression when immigrating to a new group, or enable individuals to find social partners to form a new group with.…”