Resource partitioning in tolerant and intolerant macaques

Area of Science:

• Primatology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Ethology

Background:

• Clumped food resources can be monopolized by dominant individuals.
• Social structure and dominance hierarchies influence resource access in animal societies.
• Resource partitioning strategies vary across different primate social systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between dominance asymmetry and resource partitioning in non-human primates.
• To compare food access and distribution in two macaque species with contrasting social styles: rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana).

Main Methods:

• Semi-free ranging groups of rhesus and Tonkean macaques were observed.
• Animals were provided with clumped fruit resources during controlled feeding trials.
• Dominance interactions, feeding access, and agonistic behaviors were recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Rhesus macaques exhibited strong dominance effects, with high-ranking individuals monopolizing resources, especially under high clumping. Lower-ranking individuals faced restricted access and increased conflict.
• Tonkean macaques displayed weaker dominance effects, with evidence of co-feeding between individuals of different ranks.
• Resource distribution was more equitable in tolerant Tonkean macaques compared to intolerant rhesus macaques, even under the most clumped conditions.

Conclusions:

• Dominance gradients and social tolerance are key factors shaping resource partitioning in primate groups.
• The social style of a species significantly influences how food resources are distributed among its members.
• Findings suggest dominance and social tolerance are interconnected aspects of primate social organization.