Female rank instability in newly formed groups of familiar sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus atys) |
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Authors: | D A Gust T P Gordon |
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Institution: | (1) Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center Field Station, Emory University, 2409 Taylor Road, 30243 Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA |
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Abstract: | The formation of two new groups of sooty mangabeys (N=6; N=11) comprised of individuals removed from their natal group of
98 animals led to dominance rank challenges with aggression and wounding, though this occurred after an interval of months.
Dominance rank challenges were not expected because, unlike rhesus macaques, adult female sooty mangabeys do not affiliate
with adult kin significantly more than nonkin and show minimal agonistic aiding even with adult kin, thus rank would seem
to be independent of aiding. Moreover, during the last nine years, severe wounding of adults in a large stable group of sooty
mangabeys has been virtually absent and agonistic behavior in a stable group of sooty mangabeys is exhibited at a low rate
compared to some macaque species. New members in the group of six maintained their relative ranks for 12 weeks after which
the beta supplanted the alpha female with no serious wounding. This ranking remained stable for 29 weeks after which the alpha
and beta females were supplanted with fatal wounds inflicted to the alpha and less severe wounds to the beta female. The second
subgroup also kept their relative ranks initially. However, after 27 weeks the lowest ranking female severely wounded the
next to last ranking female and 1 week later attacked and displaced the alpha female with minimal wounding. Fourteen weeks
later the beta female (formerly the alpha) attacked and severely wounded the new alpha female and regained the top dominance
position. These events suggest that although sooty mangabeys do not exhibit strong kin preferential behavior among adults,
they do have defined relationships within the long term, stable group. Removal from those defined relationships allows the
possibility of social reorganization that may be mediated by serious aggression. |
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Keywords: | Dominance rank Social reorganization Aggression |
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