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Evidence for mutual assessment in a wild primate
Marcela E Benítez1, David J Pappano2, Jacinta C Beehner3,4
1Department of Psychology, Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. mbenitez@gsu.edu.
Scientific Reports
|June 9, 2017
Summary
Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) males use loud calls to assess opponents in aggressive encounters. This study provides evidence for mutual assessment in primate signaling contests, considering both individual and opponent attributes.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Primate Social Behavior
Background:
- Game theory suggests animals assess opponents before escalating conflicts.
- Mutual assessment is predicted but rarely observed, with simpler strategies often favored.
- Primate signaling contests offer a context to investigate complex assessment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide evidence for mutual assessment in a wild primate species.
- To investigate the role of loud calls in male gelada signaling contests.
- To determine if gelada males assess opponents based on their own and the opponent's attributes.
Main Methods:
- Conducted playback experiments with male gelada loud calls.
- Combined experimental data with naturalistic observations of male interactions.
- Analyzed male responses in relation to their own and the caller's attributes.
Main Results:
- Gelada males' responses to loud calls varied based on their own condition and the perceived attributes of the caller.
- Evidence supports a mutual assessment strategy rather than simpler assessment tactics.
- Leader and bachelor males exhibited distinct responses, indicating context-dependent assessment.
Conclusions:
- This study presents direct evidence for mutual assessment in primate signaling contests.
- Gelada male loud calls function as signals that are evaluated in a relative context.
- Findings contribute to understanding the evolution of complex communication and social decision-making in animals.
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