Social structures in Pan paniscus: testing the female bonding hypothesis |
| |
Authors: | Jeroen M G Stevens Hilde Vervaecke Han De Vries Linda Van Elsacker |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;(2) Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium;(3) Department of Behavioral Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 80.086, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| |
Abstract: | Based on previous research in captivity, bonobos, Pan paniscus, have been called a female-bonded species. However, genetic and behavioural data indicate that wild females migrate. Bonding between these unrelated females would then be in contradiction with socio-ecological models. It has been argued that female bonding has been overemphasized in captive bonobos. We examine patterns of proximity, grooming and support behaviour in six well established captive groups of bonobos. We find that female bonding was not a typical characteristic of all captive bonobo groups. In only two groups there was a trend for females to prefer proximity with other females over association with males. We found no evidence that following or grooming between females was more frequent than between males and unrelated females or between males. Only in coalitions, females supported each other more than male–female or male–male dyads. We also investigated five mother–son pairs. Grooming was more frequent among mothers and sons than in any other dyad, but sons did not groom their mothers more than males groomed unrelated females. Mothers groomed their sons, or provided more support to them than females groomed or supported unrelated males. Thus, while bonds between females were clearly present, intersexual relations between males and either unrelated females or their mothers are of more, or equal importance. |
| |
Keywords: | Captivity Coalitions Grooming Pan paniscus Social bonding |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|