Tag: Kylen Gartland

Sociosexual behaviors of captive bonobos (Pan paniscus) in proximity to an artificially built termite mound

Presenter(s): Mathieu Wilson

Faculty Mentor(s): Frances White & Kylen Gartland

Poster 109

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Studies of wild apes are fundamental to our understanding of humans and human evolution. Biological anthropologists investigate the behavior of our closest relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, in an effort to understand the evolution of human social behavior. Whereas chimpanzees are male-bonded and aggressive, bonobos have been found to be female-bonded and peaceful. Bonobos are known to engage in sociosexual behaviors for a variety of purposes beyond reproduction. These behaviors are thought to be used to strengthen social bonds and as a means of diffusing group tension in both wild and captive populations. Given these hypotheses, sociosexual behavior is particularly evident in feeding contexts. Here we study the effects of an artificially built termite mounded, baited daily with food, on the sociosexual behaviors of a captive group of 16 bonobos at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. To collect data, the bonobos were observed during the day time from June 19th through August 29th, 2011. All occurrences of sociosexual behavior were recorded, in addition to the age and sex of the individuals involved, and who initiated the contact. We hypothesized that (1) the termite mound would bring the group into closer contact in the space near the mound, and (2) that tensions over who had access to the food in the mound would lead to sociosexual behaviors. Our data support that sociosexual behavior is important in both group cohesion and resolving tension in these bonobos.

Grooming as an Indicator of Male Dominance and Reconciliation in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Presenter(s): Caitlin Shreeve

Co Presenter(s): Nichole Biggs

Faculty Mentor(s): Frances White & Kylen Gartland

Poster 62

Session: Sciences

In primate societies, social rank is very important in males. Higher-ranking males get more food, more mates, and better social situations than lower-ranking males. Males, therefore, fight over rank and as a result, often need to “make-up” or reconcile after a fight. This reconciliation is important for repairing social bonds and group cohesion. Dominance rank is primarily determined by primatologists from watching aggressive interactions, but if fights are rare it can be hard to identify male rank. In this study, we will be researching whether it is possible to use a more common behavior to identify male rank. Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) spend a lot of time grooming, which is used to rebuild and strengthen bonds within the social group. The directionality of grooming may be indicative of dominance relationships because high-ranking individuals may receive more grooming than low ranking individuals. Additionally, reconciliation through social grooming may also be related to the dominance rank of the males involved. Through an examination of published studies, we will extract information on the relationship between grooming and reconciliation with dominance rank. We will then develop a data collection methodology which we will use in a research study of the adult males in the Japanese macaque group at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. Studies of reconciliation and dominance rank through the lens of grooming behaviors can give us a better understanding of the complex social relationships in multi-male Japanese macaque societies.

Affiliative David’s Scores: An Analysis of Social Change over Two Years in a Semi-Free Ranging Group of Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Presenter(s): Caitlin Shreeve—Anthropology

Faculty Mentor(s): Kylen Gartland, Frances White

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

Typically, dominance in primates is determined through aggressive interactions with initiation of aggression indicating higher dominance rank . David’s Score analyses using aggression are frequently used to calculate dominance hierarchies in primates . However, if fights are rare then it can be hard to identify male rank . Non-aggressive behaviors like grooming can also indicate rank based on directionality . For example, higher-ranking males are often groomed more whereas lower-ranking males will do more grooming . For this study, we were interested in: 1) whether a dominance hierarchy could be constructed from non-aggressive behaviors, and 2) whether there were significant changes in grooming directionality and intensity over time . We examined a group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) at the Oregon National Primate Research Center . We collected a total of 475 hours of behavioral data between two summer study periods in 2018 and 2019 . We collected data on 11 adult males using 15-minute focal follows with 1-minute instantaneous scans . We calculated David’s Scores for each male for 2018 and 2019 from grooming interactions and found hierarchical differences . Comparison between these scores demonstrated that the high-ranking males did not show a change in their David’s Score, indicating that their grooming effort remained constant . Lower- ranking males increased their grooming efforts directed at higher-ranking males while middle-ranking males showed only minor changes in their David’s Score . These data suggest that David’s Scores based on non-aggressive behaviors may be used to measure behavioral strategies and that the greatest increase in grooming effort is made by the low-ranking males .

Impacts of Environment on Degree of Despotism in Semi-Free Ranging Japanese Macaques (Macaca Fuscata)

Presenter(s): Lisa Kwan—Anthropology, French

Co-Presenter(s): Noa Cohen

Faculty Mentor(s): Kylen Gartland, Frances White

Session 6: Interact & React

Primate societies have evolved social hierarchies when higher ranking individuals can gain access to differential benefits such as food resources and mating opportunities . In order to maintain high rank, individuals must uphold the social hierarchy and defend their position against lower- ranking primates . Different primate groups have varying degrees of hierarchical flexibility in which a population is despotic or tolerant depending on which confers individual benefit . This is often dependent on the particular environment . Tolerant hierarchies are typically seen in environments where group cohesion and cooperation are important for individual success, and are characterized by low rates of severe wounding, sharing of limited food resources, and frequent reconciliation following aggressive interactions . In contrast, despotic hierarchies are found where individuals can gain benefits by competing amongst each other for access to resources . They are distinguished by frequent aggression and wounding between individuals, restricted access to resources, and infrequent reconciliation . Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) are primarily characterized as having despotic hierarchies . Our research examines potential differences in hierarchies of Japanese macaques in wild and captive settings due to differences in abundance and distribution of resources between the two environments . Through an examination of published studies, we will compare and contrast the environmental factors associated with despotic versus tolerant hierarchies in Japanese macaques . We will collect data on the Japanese macaque group at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) . This research may provide insight into how different captive and wild environments affect primate behavior .

Male Personality and Fitness in a Semi-Free Ranging Group of Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Presenter(s): Nichole Biggs—Anthropology

Faculty Mentor(s): Kylen Gartland, Frances White

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

It has been recently recognized that non-human primates, just like humans, have different personalities . These personality differences can be measured using a variation of Factor-Five theory commonly used in human personality . The Factor-Five personality model is used to sort individuals into five domains that are made of certain behaviors . The five categories predominantly used in non-human primates include sociability, confidence/aggression, independence, neuroticism, and dominance . Personality studies have been largely biased towards female non-human primates with a particular emphasis on the Macaca genus . This study on male personality was conducted on a group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) at the Oregon National Primate Research Center . We collected a total of 475 hours of personality-related behavioral data across two summer study periods in 2018 and 2019 . We conducted 15-minute focal follows with one-minute instantaneous scans on 17 adult males . Fitness, as measured by the number of offspring each male had, was calculated using available genetic paternity records . We ran a PCA (Principle Component Analysis), which cross-references behaviors and then clusters the individuals with similar behaviors together, identified males with similar personality types . There were two clear personality clusters and a few male outliers . Personality types did not differ in average reproductive fitness (F=0 .53, df=2, p=0 .6009) . These results suggest that while males do have demonstrable variation in personality types, these personality types to do not result in different levels of reproductive success . Thus, if personality is
an important component of reproductive strategy, it might be likely that males are achieving mating opportunities differently dependent on their personality type .