Vigilance behavior during the birth and lactation season in naturally occurring ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve,Madagascar |
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Authors: | Lisa Gould |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, T6G-2H4 Edmonton, AB, Canada |
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Abstract: | I examined the vigilance behavior of adult males and females in two groups of ring-tailed lemurs(Lemur catta)during the birth and lactation season at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, southwestern Madagascar. I found no sex difference with
respect to the rates of overall vigilance, rates of vigilance toward a potential predator or unfamiliar sound, or rates of
vigilance toward conspecifics from other social groups, nor were there sex differences in the percentage of time spent vigilant
in any of the above categories. Higher-ranking females were vigilant significantly more often toward predators or potential
predators than lower-ranking females were. I detected no relationship between vigilance behavior and dominance rank among
adult males. The alpha female in each group exhibited significantly more vigilance behavior than all other members of her
group. It was predicted that males should exhibit more vigilance behavior than females do, particularly during the birth and
lactation season, when predator pressure is high, if they are benefiting females in this respect. I discuss the results in
the context of this prediction and in terms of how ring-tailed lemur males benefit females, and why they may be tolerated
in social groups. |
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Keywords: | vigilance behavior ring-tailed lemurs Madagascar birth and lactation season |
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