An ecological study of troop fissions of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata yakui) on Yakushima Island,Japan |
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Authors: | Tamaki Maruhashi |
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Institution: | (1) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 484 Inuyama, Aichi, Japan |
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Abstract: | Wild, habituated, Japanese monkeys were observed from 1975 to 1979 on Yakushima Island, Southern Japan. The monkey troops
had a continuous distribution in a warm temperate forest. Demographic data on local populations was collected. The population
density was 33 animals/km2. The growth rate of the studied troop was 3.0% per year. A significant correlation between home range areas (R) and troop size (P) was found (r=0.955,p<0.005), using anR-P equation,R=1.84P. One troop split into three troops through two successive fissions. Twenty-one intertroop encounters were observed. Five
types of encounters were distinguished. The encounters were apparently territorial defence. Increases in birth rate and socionomic
sex ratio after the fissions were prominent. The following four factors had a direct effect upon the dispersion of the troops
after fission: (1) dominance relation between the fission troops; (2) social pressure of the neighbors; (3) troop's attachment
to its home range; and (4) structure of the environment. The home range of Japanese monkeys is a territory, and territoriality
is a population regulating mechanism which serves to reduce competition for food. |
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Keywords: | |
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