Social Plasticity and Demographic Variation in Primates

Strier, Karen B.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-9520-9_10

Cited by 27 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Our study has various potential limitations. First, we only included five groups, which did not allow us to optimally measure variation in group size and living conditions, especially considering that these variables are often correlated with each other (e.g., in zoos, groups are usually smaller, completely food-provisioned and with limited freedom of movement), and that behavior can both affect and be affected by socioecological and demographic conditions (Strier, 2011). Moreover, some of the study groups, especially those in captivity, were rather small, so that inter-individual variation was limited (e.g., we only had few captive males in our study groups).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intra-specific Variation in the Social Behavior of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Amici

Widdig

Fersen³

et al. 2021

Front. Psychol.

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Non-human primates show an impressive behavioral diversity, both across and within species. However, the factors explaining intra-specific behavioral variation across groups and individuals are yet understudied. Here, we aimed to assess how group size and living conditions (i.e., captive, semi-free-ranging, wild) are linked to behavioral variation in 5 groups of Barbary macaques (N=137 individuals). In each group, we collected observational data on the time individuals spent in social interactions and on the group dominance style, along with experimental data on social tolerance over food and neophobia. Our results showed that differences in group size predicted differences in the time spent in social interactions, with smaller groups spending a higher proportion of time in close spatial proximity, but a lower proportion of time grooming. Moreover, group size predicted variation in dominance style, with smaller groups being more despotic. Social tolerance was affected by both group size and living conditions, being higher in smaller groups and in groups living in less natural conditions. Finally, individual characteristics also explained variation in social tolerance and neophobia, with socially integrated individuals having higher access to food sources, and higher-ranking ones being more neophobic. Overall, our results support the view that intra-specific variation is a crucial aspect in primate social behavior and call for more comparative studies to better understand the sources of within-species variation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intra-specific Variation in the Social Behavior of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Amici

Widdig

Fersen³

et al. 2021

Front. Psychol.

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“…Distinguishing the dependent and independent variables in these kinds of analyses is challenging because behavior can both influence and be influenced by local ecological and demographic conditions (Strier, ). These dynamics, which can change in response to one another, reflect individual behavior, group norms, and external variables that are difficult to decipher in short‐term, cross‐sectional comparisons (Fuentes, , ; MacKinnon & Fuentes, ).…”

Section: Classifying Behavioral Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

What does variation in primate behavior mean?

Strier

2017

American J Phys Anthropol

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Interest in intraspecific behavioral variation has grown with concerns about the ability of primates to adapt to the rapidly changing ecological and demographic conditions that threaten their survival. Now, in addition to identifying the causes and phylogenetic distribution of normative, species-specific behavior patterns for interspecific comparisons, there is widespread recognition of the need to incorporate intraspecific variation. This variation is evident across groups and populations of the same species as well over the long histories of single groups of long-lived, socially complex animals with overlapping generations. Yet, analyses of both cross-sectional and longitudinal data require explicit criteria about how to classify and interpret behavioral variation, and must be sensitive to the limitations of space-for-time substitutions in these comparisons. Current approaches have made great advances, but there remains an urgent challenge of understanding intraspecific variation in a way that will facilitate the development of new predictive models to assess population resilience and extinction risks in the face of climate change and other anthropogenic influences.behavioral flexibility, behavioral plasticity, comparative methods, conservation, intraspecific variation

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“…In addition, individual groups may exhibit any or all of these types of social organization over time. This variation is presumably due to variation in stochastic demographic events in small groups [68], whereas interannual shifts between solitaryand group-living in striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) depend on population density and resource abundance [31]. In gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and in some langurs (Presbytis spp.…”

Section: (A) Levels Of Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constraints and flexibility in mammalian social behaviour: introduction and synthesis

Kappeler

Barrett

Blumstein

et al. 2013

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

139

112

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This paper introduces a Theme Issue presenting the latest developments in research on the interplay between flexibility and constraint in social behaviour, using comparative datasets, long-term field studies and experimental data from both field and laboratory studies of mammals. We first explain our focus on mammals and outline the main components of their social systems, focusing on variation within- and among-species in numerous aspects of social organization, mating system and social structure. We then review the current state of primarily ultimate explanations of this diversity in social behaviour. We approach the question of how and why the balance between behavioural flexibility and continuity is achieved by discussing the genetic, developmental, ecological and social constraints on hypothetically unlimited behavioural flexibility. We introduce the other contributions to this Theme Issue against this background and conclude that constraints are often crucial to the evolution and expression of behavioural flexibility. In exploring these issues, the enduring relevance of Tinbergen's seminal paper ‘On aims and methods in ethology’, with its advocacy of an integrative, four-pronged approach to studying behaviour becomes apparent: an exceptionally fitting tribute on the 50th anniversary of its publication.

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Social Plasticity and Demographic Variation in Primates

Cited by 27 publications

References 47 publications

Intra-specific Variation in the Social Behavior of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Intra-specific Variation in the Social Behavior of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

What does variation in primate behavior mean?

Constraints and flexibility in mammalian social behaviour: introduction and synthesis

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