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Triadic interactions in captive Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus, Linnaeus, 1758): "Agonistic buffering"?
1Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, and Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
American Journal of Primatology
|March 22, 2020
Summary
Male Barbary macaques engage in triadic interactions, previously thought to be solely for agonistic buffering. This study found these interactions are context-dependent, not solely explained by aggression inhibition.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Ethology
- Social dynamics in mammals
Background:
- Triadic interactions in male primates have been hypothesized to function as agonistic buffering.
- Agonistic buffering suggests that these interactions inhibit or modify aggressive behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of male-immature triadic interactions in a captive group of Macaca sylvanus.
- To test the agonistic buffering hypothesis by examining dominance ranks, preceding/following events, and infant presence in triadic encounters.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of a captive Macaca sylvanus group.
- Analysis of triadic interactions, focusing on dominance hierarchies.
- Examination of behavioral sequences before and after triadic interactions.
- Assessment of infant presence during nonagonistic encounters between males of varying ages.
Main Results:
- Dominance rank, preceding/following events, and infant presence did not consistently support agonistic buffering as the sole explanation.
- Triadic interactions showed significant contextual variability in their expression.
- The presence of an infant influenced nonagonistic encounters between males.
Conclusions:
- The agonistic buffering hypothesis alone does not fully explain male-immature triadic interactions in Macaca sylvanus.
- Contextual factors play a crucial role in shaping the expression and function of these social interactions.
- Further research is needed to understand the multifaceted nature of primate social behavior.
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