Social relationships and individual contribution to cooperative behaviour in captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) |
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Authors: | A Koenig H Rothe |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Buergerstrasse 50, D-3400 Goettingen, Federal Republic of Germany |
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Abstract: | The social relationships between the members of a family consisting of eight captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are here examined, as well as the participation of individual family members in infant carrying and defensive behaviour
against non-related intruders (adolescent males). Within the social relationships, a clear division of the family into three
subgroups (parents, adult offspring, non-adult offspring) could be determined, whereby the adult offspring, especially with
respect to the parents, occupy a peripheral position. In the types of cooperative behaviour examined here, substantial participation
in infant carrying could be observed in only four family members (parents, adult son, one subadult daughter), and in defence
against intruders in only two family members (adult son, one subadult daughter). Participation in infant carrying remained
stable throughout the study period. Conversely, individual changes in participation in defence against intruders could be
determined, dependent upon the presence of infants carried. The advantages and disadvantages of social substructuring observed
are discussed here, in particular the peripheral position of adult offspring, possible connections in individually varied
participation in cooperative behaviour, and possible regulative mechanisms. In view of past studies on cooperative behaviour
among marmosets, it is here presumed that pronounced individual differences result from a division of labour within the family
with respect to various aspects of cooperative behaviour. |
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Keywords: | Callithrix jacchus Cooperative behaviour Infant carrying Defence against intruders |
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