灵长类社会玩耍的行为模式、影响因素及其功能风险

社会玩耍是指两个或两个以上个体共同参与的一种互作性玩耍行为,个体间的行为彼此适应并相互影响。社会玩耍行为在灵长类物种的社会交往过程中普遍发生,作为未成年个体一种重要的发育行为,其对个体的生存技能和成年后的繁殖成功具有重要影响。灵长类物种的社会玩耍不仅仅表现为追逐、摔跤、跳跃等一些常见行为,部分物种还发展出自己特有的行为。一般而言,社会玩耍在婴儿后期和青少年早期的发生频率最高,然后随着年龄增长直到成年时期,这类行为的平均发生频率将逐渐下降。未成年雄性个体要比同年龄段的雌性个体更喜欢玩耍,但常因物种、研究对象年龄等因素表现不同甚至相反;很多物种的个体喜欢与有亲缘关系的个体玩耍,或者与性别相同、年龄相仿、等级相近的个体玩耍。总之,非人灵长类个体社会玩耍的发育不但受环境参量如食物、场地等的影响,而且还与个体的年龄、性别、等级、亲缘关系等社群因素紧密相关。未成年个体在玩耍过程中,获得了身体机能的快速发育、完善了生存技能、建立了个体间的友好关系、增强了认识自身及适应周围环境的能力,从而为顺利过渡到成年期和履行自己的职能打好基础,但有时却需要承担玩耍过程中受伤甚至死亡的风险。玩耍作为灵长类社会的一种行为文化,对其研究有助于对人类自身行为进化的不断认识,相信这方面的理论将会得到后来者的不断创新和丰富,也期望这方面的理念及经验能被及时运用到保护繁育等实践活动中。

Behavioral patterns, influencing factors, functions and risks of social play in primates

This article discusses the behavioral patterns, influencing factors, functions and risks of social play in primates, including information from published references and a study of Rhinopithecus roxellana by the authors. Social play involves the interaction between two or more individuals who often adjust to or influence the others' behavior. Play behavior is common among immature primates and can affect present individual survival and future reproductive success. The categories of social play in primates include common behaviors such as chasing, wrestling and jumping. Some species have developed novel behaviors such as play panting in chimpanzees (Pan troglodyte), spinning in vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and bridging in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). Generally, primates play most during late infancy and early juvenility, after which the average frequency of play behavior will gradually decline through adolescence to adulthood. The play behaviors of species which are evolutionarily closest to humans are more complicated and human-like than those of less developed species. Immature males often engage more in social play than females of the same age, but this varies with species, age and other factors, and in some cases the opposite is true. When selecting play partners, young primates appear to have a preference for partners who are kin, of the same sex, of similar age, and of similar dominance status because of the similarity in play motivation, less risk of being hurt, and the opportunity to form social allies. Individuals who prefer playing with partners of high dominance have increased access to food, water resources and opportunities for copulation. The frequency of play behavior of individuals living in high quality habitat is usually higher than that of individuals with low quality habitat. The same is true for individuals in larger groups and with an abundance of food compared to those in smaller groups and with a scarcity of food, respectively. Play behavior is also affected by play area, ambient temperature, familiarity among play partners and other environmental factors. For example, the play frequency of young golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) changes with the season. In conclusion, the development of social play in non-human primates is thought to be related not only to environmental parameters such as availability of food, configuration of the play area, group size and season but also to factors related to the community itself such as age, sex, kinship and relative dominance of play partners. While engaging in play behavior, immature primates can develop improved physical fitness and survival skills, establish social relationships, enhance cognitive ability, develop troop culture and adapt to changes in the surrounding environment. These skills facilitate the transition from infant to juvenile to adult and the ability to perform the social responsibilities expected at each stage. However, social play is also risky because individuals may get injured, disabled, or even die during play. Social play, as a kind of behavioral culture in primates, should be further studied, especially in less developed species. We believe future studies on primate play will be more innovative and of higher scientific rigor. What is currently known about social play in primates should be applied to their protection and utilization.