The nature and frequency of agonism in free-ranging and semi-free-ranging brown lemurs,Eulemur fulvus |
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Authors: | Ruben Kaufman |
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Institution: | (1) Box 6, Site 8, RR2, TOL OWO Cochrane, Alberta, Canada |
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Abstract: | Agonistic behaviour was studied in three groups each of free-ranging and semi-free-ranging brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) at Berenty, Madagascar and the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC) respectively. The purpose of the study was to answer
questions arising from the work of other researchers regarding the frequency and intensity of agonism in this species. Authors
of field studies generally concluded that agonism was rare and mild, whereas those who had studied semi-free-ranging or captive
animals at the DUPC reported intense agonism during the peaks of the mating and birth seasons, with sometimes fatal wounding
occurring among captive animals.
I recorded 30 agonistic behaviours or “signals” which I grouped into seven general categories — cuffs, other physical contact,
threats, chases, third party intervention, unprovoked submissive signals, and reciprocal aggression. The seven categories
represent the types of signals which initiated or otherwise defined agonistic interactions, regardless of whether or not there
was a submissive response to aggression. The relative percentages of all agonism constituted by the seven categories were
not found to be significantly different between study sites.
Agonistic signals were also classified as either subtle or obvious, a classification which crosscut the seven categories.
At both study sites, the majority of agonistic signals initiating or defining interactions were subtle.
Rates of agonism for the Berenty groups, studied during the birth season only, were significantly lower than those for the
DUPC groups during the birth season, possibly due to (1) easier observation conditions at the DUPC, and (2) the impossibility
of successful emigration at the DUPC, which might have resulted in social stresses translating into higher rates of agonism.
In only one DUPC group was there significant variation in rates of agonism between seasons.
I found agonistic behaviour to be mild, at both study sites, in the senses of subtlety of both aggressive and submissive signals,
unlikelihood of response to aggression, and virtual absence of wounding; and I noted that serious wounding during other studies
at the DUPC involved animals captive in caged runs. Comparing rates of the study groups with rates reported in other research
for brown lemurs, other lemuriform species, and some New and Old World anthropoid species, I concluded thatE. fulvus agonism was in fact not rare except in comparison to baboons and macaques. |
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Keywords: | Brown lemurs Agonism Subtle Mild Rates |
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