Grooming as a reward? Social function of grooming between females in cooperatively breeding marmosets

Lazaro-Perea, Cristina; Arruda, Maria de Fátima; Snowdon, Charles T.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2003.06.004

Cited by 95 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…We found that allogrooming reciprocity within the dominant pair was significantly higher than that observed between breeding males and subordinate females, and between dominant and subordinate females. Also, males were the main groomers in all three groups, as recorded for six groups (group Q in a different period, and five other groups) in the same field area [Lazaro-Perea et al, 2004].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral strategies and hormonal profiles of dominant and subordinate common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) females in wild monogamous groups

Sousa

Albuquerque

et al. 2005

American J Primatol

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New insights into the mating systems of common marmosets suggest that they are mainly monogamous, although polygyny and polyandry occasionally occur. Long-term monitoring of wild common marmosets has shown that some reports of polygynous groups (i.e., groups that contain more than one reproducing female) in fact indicate an unbalanced reproductive output associated with extragroup copulation. In this study we describe the behavioral and hormonal profiles of common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) females living in three wild monogamous groups (Q, PBf, and T), varying from five to 11 individuals, at Nísia Floresta field station, RN, Brazil. The mating system of the groups was previously characterized in terms of affiliative, sexual, and mate-guarding behaviors. Behavioral data were collected once a week, and fecal samples were collected at least twice a week for 10-16 months, depending on the group. A preferential allogrooming relationship was recorded between dominant males and females. Under field conditions the reproductive inhibition of subordinate females appears to be more behavioral than hormonal, since subordinate females of the three groups ovulated and two conceived during the study. In these cases, the subordinate and dominant females reproduced 1 month apart, and infanticide (one case confirmed and one suspected) appeared to be part of the reproductive strategy of dominant females. Following the infanticide, ovarian inhibition (group T) or emigration and return to the natal group (group PBf) were observed. In the third group (Q) the subordinate female showed hormonal profiles compatible with pregnancy, but no infants were seen. These findings reflect the different alternatives that wild subordinate common marmoset females use to reproduce.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral strategies and hormonal profiles of dominant and subordinate common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) females in wild monogamous groups

Sousa

Albuquerque

et al. 2005

American J Primatol

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“…In a field study Lazaro-Perea et al (2004) reported that common marmosets groom down the hierarchy with breeding adults grooming helpers significantly more than the reverse. Since grooming behavior releases betaendorphins (Keverne et al, 1989) and oxytocin (Carter, 1998), both of which provide reinforcing effects, high levels of grooming of helpers by breeding adults can be seen as providing direct physiological reinforcement to helpers.…”

Section: Social Mechanisms Maintaining Helpersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooperative breeders do cooperate

Snowdon

Cronin

2007

Behavioural Processes

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Bergmüller et al. (2007) make an important contribution to studies of cooperative breeding and provide a theoretical basis for linking the evolution of cooperative breeding with cooperative behavior. We have long been involved in empirical research on the only family of nonhuman primates to exhibit cooperative breeding, the Callitrichidae, which includes marmosets and tamarins, with studies in both field and captive contexts. In this paper we expand on three themes from Bergmüller et al. (2007) with empirical data. First we provide data in support of the importance of helpers and the specific benefits that helpers can gain in terms of fitness. Second, we suggest that mechanisms of rewarding helpers are more common and more effective in maintaining cooperative breeding than punishments. Third, we present a summary of our own research on cooperative behavior in cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) where we find greater success in cooperative problem solving than has been reported for non-cooperatively breeding species.

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“…5 breeders may specifically use grooming as incentive for helpers to stay in the group [32][33][34].…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term-stability of relationship structure in family groups of common marmosets, and its link to proactive prosociality

Finkenwirth

Burkart

2017

Physiology & Behavior

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Cooperatively breeding, group-living common marmosets show differentiated relationships, where more strongly bonded dyads within a group engage more in affiliative interactions than less strongly bonded ones. Intriguingly, recent results suggest that strong bonds do not only occur between breeding partners but between individuals from any sex or status, and that strong-bond partners exhibit correlated oxytocin fluctuations (dyadic oxytocin synchrony, OTS) over a period of six weeks. To date, it is unclear whether such relationships are stable over time and whether they are also reflected in higher partner-specific proactive prosociality. To assess the long-term stability of the relationship structure of common marmoset family groups, we investigated whether hormonal and behavioral markers of group structure (dyadic OTS, dyadic affiliation, and individual group integration) in common marmoset families remained stable over a period of six months. We collected baseline urinary OT and social behavior of 36 dyads from three family groups in a non-reproductive period (period A), and again six months later, around the birth of new infants (period B). Patterns of dyadic OTS, dyadic affiliation, and individual group integration were consistent between the two study periods. Oxytocin data from a fourth group (10 dyads), collected in two nonreproductive periods separated by a period of more than five years, could replicate this finding. Furthermore, OTS was also correlated with proactive prosociality that was assessed experimentally for 38 dyads during an earlier study. These results suggest that differentiated relationships are stable over time, even between group members other than the breeding pair, and that more strongly bonded partners also show higher levels of proactive prosociality.Future studies are necessary to identify whether these relationships have an adaptive function, perhaps with regard to positive consequences on cooperativeness.

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Grooming as a reward? Social function of grooming between females in cooperatively breeding marmosets

Cited by 95 publications

References 42 publications

Behavioral strategies and hormonal profiles of dominant and subordinate common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) females in wild monogamous groups

Behavioral strategies and hormonal profiles of dominant and subordinate common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) females in wild monogamous groups

Cooperative breeders do cooperate

Long-term-stability of relationship structure in family groups of common marmosets, and its link to proactive prosociality

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