The social component of dominance relationships in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

An all-male rhesus group was added to a second group, one animal at a time, at weekly intervals, in reverse order of their dominance ranks. Significant positive correlations prevailed for the host group dominance ranks throughout the study, but the dominance ranks of the introduced males were random with respect to their original ranks. A second experiment repeatedly introduced the alpha and beta males of a multi-male heterosexual group into a second group where they were the lowest-ranking animals. On each return they reclaimed alpha and beta positions. When the alpha and beta males of the second group were introduced to the first group, they became the lowest-ranking animals in the group. Reversal of the direction of introduction again demonstrated that relative ranks were dependent on the social context.