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Neonatal abandonment in Japanese macaques
Gabriele Schino1, Alfonso Troisi
1Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00197 Rome, Italy. gschino@casaccia.enea.it
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Newborn Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) face a higher risk of abandonment by inexperienced or low-ranking mothers. This maternal behavior impacts infant survival and future reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Maternal ecology
- Mammalian reproductive strategies
Background:
- Neonatal abandonment in primates can be influenced by maternal factors.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for conservation and welfare of captive populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of infant neonatal abandonment in a captive Japanese macaque colony.
- To investigate the relationship between maternal characteristics and abandonment probability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of long-term demographic data from a captive Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) colony.
- Statistical evaluation of factors influencing the probability of infant neonatal abandonment.
Main Results:
- Overall, 7.7% of liveborn infants were abandoned at birth.
- Primiparous (first-time) mothers showed a significantly increased probability of abandonment (approx. 40% of their infants).
- Low-ranking mothers also exhibited a higher likelihood of neonatal abandonment; maternal age and infant sex were not significant factors.
Conclusions:
- Maternal inexperience and social rank are key predictors of neonatal abandonment in Japanese macaques.
- Primiparous mothers who did not abandon infants experienced higher mortality and longer interbirth intervals, suggesting costs associated with inexperienced care.
- Findings support both adaptive and proximate explanations for maternal divestment under challenging conditions.