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Rhesus monkey behaviour under diverse population densities: coping with long-term crowding
1Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center and Department of Psychology, Emory University
Animal Behaviour
|September 1, 1997
Summary
High population density in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) did not increase aggression in males, who engaged in more grooming and huddling. Females showed varied responses, increasing some behaviors with kin and non-kin.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Ethology
- Animal sociology
Background:
- High population density is often linked to increased aggression in animal populations.
- A coping model suggests primates possess mechanisms to mitigate crowding's negative effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral responses of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to varying population densities.
- To test the coping model's predictions regarding social tension regulation under crowding.
Main Methods:
- Observation of seven captive rhesus monkey groups across a wide range of population densities.
- Quantification of behaviors including aggression, grooming, huddling, and displays.
Main Results:
- Male rhesus monkeys increased grooming and huddling, but not aggression, with rising density.
- Female rhesus monkeys showed increased aggression and affiliative behaviors, with density-dependent variations in partner interactions.
- Reconciliation rates of aggressive conflicts remained constant across densities.
Conclusions:
- Rhesus monkey responses to increased density vary by sex and social relationship.
- Male-female relationships exhibited a coping pattern, while female-female and female-kin relationships showed increased aggression and affiliation.
- Behavioral plasticity in response to density reflects adaptive strategies based on relationship stability.