Primates

, Volume 40, Issue 1, pp 23–31 | Cite as

The evolution of “egalitarian” and “despotic” social systems among macaques

  • Shuichi Matsumura
Article
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Recent studies of captive macaques have revealed considerable inter-species differences in dominance styles among females. In “egalitarian” species such as stumptail (Macaca arctoides) or tonkean macaques (M. tonkeana), social interactions are more symmetrical and less kin-biased than in “despotic” species such as Japanese (M. fuscata) or rhesus macaques (M. mulatta). Field observations of moor macaques (M. maurus), close relatives of tonkean macaques, suggest that tolerance during feeding characterizes their egalitarian dominance style in the natural habitat. Although it has been proposed that communal defense against other groups may be the main selective force in the evolution of egalitarian dominance style among females, few field data support this prediction. A game theory analysis showed that both an “egalitarian” strategy and a “despotic” strategy are possible evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS) under certain conditions. The difference in dominance styles might reflect the difference in ESS. This means that an egalitarian dominance style can emerge without strong between-group contest competition. A phylogenetic comparison among macaques suggests that despotic dominance styles very likely evolved from egalitarian dominance styles. In the future, primate socioecological studies should pay more attention to the evolutionary history of each species.

Key Words

Moor macaques Macaca maurus Macaques Dominance styles Game theory Phylogeny 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abegg, C.;Thierry, B.;Kaumanns, W. 1996. Reconciliation in two groups of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus).Int. J. Primatol., 17: 803–816.Google Scholar
  2. Aureli, F.;Das, M.;Veenema, H. C. 1997. Differential kinship effect on reconciliation in three species of macaques (Macaca fascicularis, M. fuscata, andM. sylvanus)J. Comp. Psychol., 111: 91–99.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Barton, R. A.;Byrne, R. W.;Whiten, A. 1996. Ecology, feeding competition and social structure in baboons.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 38: 321–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Bernstein, I. S. 1981. Dominance: the baby and the bathwater.Behav. Brain Sci., 4: 419–457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Bertrand, M. 1969.The Behavioral Repertoire of the Stumptail Macaque. S. Karger, Basel.Google Scholar
  6. Borries, C. 1993. Ecology of female social relationships: hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) and thevan Schaik model.Folia Primatol., 61: 21–30.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Butovskaya, M. 1993. Kinship and different dominance styles in groups of three species of the genusMacaca (M. arctoides, M. mulatta, andM. fascicularis).Folia Primatol., 60: 210–224.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. Caldecott, J. O. 1986. Mating patterns, societies and the ecogeography of macaques.Anim. Behav, 34: 208–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Chaffin, C. L.; Friedlen, K.;de Waal, F. B. M. 1995. Dominance style of Japanese macaques compared with rhesus and stumptail macaques.Amer. J. Primatol., 35: 103–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Chan, L. K. W. 1996. Phylogenetic interpretations of primate socioecology: with special reference to social and ecological diversity inMacaca. In:Phylogenies and the Comparative Method in Animal Behavior,Martin E. (ed.), Oxford Univ. Press, New York, pp. 324–360.Google Scholar
  11. Cheney, D. L. 1987. Interactions and relationships between groups. In:Primate Societies,Smuts,B. B.;Cheney,D. L.;Seyfarth,R. M.;Wrangham,R. W.;Struhsaker,T. T. (eds.), The Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 267–281.Google Scholar
  12. Deag, J. M. 1973. Intergroup encounters in the wild Barbary macaquesMacaca sylvanus L In:Comparative Ecology and Behaviour of Primates,Michael,R. P.;Crook,J. H. (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 315–373.Google Scholar
  13. Delson, E. 1980. Fossil macaques fhyletic relationships and a scenario of development. In:The Macaques: Studies in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution,Lindburg,D. G. (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York pp. 10–30.Google Scholar
  14. Drews, C. 1993. The concept and definition of dominance in animal behaviour.Behaviour, 125: 283–313.Google Scholar
  15. Dugatkin, L. A.;Reeve, H. K. 1998.Game Theory and Animal Behavior, Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
  16. Dunbar, R. I. M. 1988.Primate Social Systems. Groom Helm, London.Google Scholar
  17. Fa, J. E. 1989. The genusMacaca: a review of taxonomy and evolution.Mammal Rev., 19: 45–81.Google Scholar
  18. Fooden, J. 1976. Provisional classification and key to the living species of macaques (Primates:Macaca).Folia Primatol., 25: 225–236.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  19. Fooden, J. 1980. Classification and distribution of living macaques (Macaca Lacepede, 1799). In:The Macaques: Studies in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution,Lindburg,D. G. (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp. 1–9.Google Scholar
  20. Fooden, J.;Lanyon, S. M. 1989. Blood-protein allele frequencies and phylogenetic relationships inMacaca: a review.Amer. J. Primatol., 17: 209–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Furuichi, T. 1983. Interindividual distance and influence of dominance on feeding in a natural Japanese macaque troop.Primates, 24: 445–455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Harvey, P. H.;Pagel, M. D. 1991.The Comparative Method in Evolutionary Biology. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
  23. Hinde, R. A. 1983.Primate Social Relationships: An Integrated Approach. Blackwell Scientific Publ., Oxford.Google Scholar
  24. Itani, J. 1977. Evolution of primate social structure.J. Human Evol., 6: 235–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Kawai, M. 1958. On the rank system in a natural group of Japanese monkey (I) (II).Primates, 1: 111–148. (in Japanese with English summary)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Kawamura, S. 1958. The matriarchal social order in the Minoo-B group: a study on the rank system of Japanese macaque.Primates, 1: 149–156 (in Japanese with English summary).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Kinnaird, M. F.; O'Brien, T. G. 1994. Intergroup interactions inMacaca nigra: a random walk or resource defense? In:Handbook and Abstracts of XVth IPS Congress, p. 301.Google Scholar
  28. Lindburg, D. G. 1971. The rhesus monkey in North India: an ecological and behavioral study. In:Primate Behavior: Developments in Field and Laboratory Research Vol. 2,Rosenblum,L. A. (ed.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 1–106.Google Scholar
  29. Maddison, W. P.;Maddison, D. R. 1992.MacClade: Analysis of Phylogeny, and Character Evolution, Version 3. Sinauer & Associates, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
  30. Maruhashi, T. 1982. An ecological study of troop fissions of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata yakui) on Yakushima Island, Japan.Primates, 23: 317–337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Matsumura, S. 1996. Post-conflict affiliative contacts between former opponents among wild moor macaques (Macaca maurus).Amer. J. Primatol, 38: 211–219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Matsumura, S. in press. Relaxed dominance relations among female moor macaques (Macaca maurus) in their natural habitat, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.Folia Primatologica.Google Scholar
  33. Matsumura, S.;Kobayashi, T. 1998. A game model for dominance relations among group-living animals.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 42: 77–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Matsumura, S.;Okamoto, K. 1997. Factors affecting proximity among members of a wild group of moor macaques during feeding, moving, and resting.Int. J. Primatol., 18: 929–940.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Maynard Smith, J. 1982.Evolution and the Theory of Games. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
  36. Maynard Smith, J.;Price, G. R. 1973. The logic of animal conflict.Nature, 246: 15–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Mehlman, P. T.;Parkhill, R. S. 1988. Intergroup interactions in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), Ghomaran Rif Mountains, Morocco.Amer. J. Primatol. 15: 31–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Melnick, D. J.;Kidd, K. K. 1985. Genetic and evolutionary relationships among Asian macaques.Int. J. Primatol., 6: 123–160.Google Scholar
  39. Mitchell, C. L.;Boinski, S.;van Schaik, C. P. 1991. Competitive resimes and female bonding in two species of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedi andS. sciureus).Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 28: 55–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Moore, J. 1992. Dispersal, nepotism, and primate social behavior.Int. J. Primatol., 13: 361–378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Mori, A. 1983. Comparison of the communicative vocalizations and behaviors of group ranging in eastern gorillas, chimpanzees and pygmy chimpanzees.Primates, 24: 486–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Pagel, M. D.;Harvey, P. H. 1989. Comparative methods for examining adaptation depend on evolutionary models.Folia Primatol., 53: 203–330.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. Petit, O.;Abegg, C.;Thierry, B. 1997. A comparative study of aggression and conciliation in three Cercopithecine monkeys (Macaca fuscata, Macaca nigra, andPapio papio).Behaviour, 134: 415–432.Google Scholar
  44. Petit, O.;Desportes, C.;Thierry B. 1992. Differential probability of “coproduction” in two species of macaques (Macaca tonkeana andM. mulatta).Ethology, 90: 107–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. Petit, O.;Thierry, B. 1994. Reconciliation in a group of black macaques (Macaca nigra).Dodo J. Wildl. Pres. Trusts, 30: 89–95.Google Scholar
  46. Preuschoft, S. 1995.“Laughter” and “Smiling” in Macaques: An Evolutionary Perspective. Faculteit Biologie, Univ. Utrecht, Utrecht.Google Scholar
  47. Rowell, T. E. 1974. The concept of social dominance.Behav. Biol., 11: 131–154.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. Saito, C. 1996. Dominance and feeding success in female Japanese macaques,Macaca fuscata: effects of food patch size and inter-patch distance.Anim. Behav. 51: 967–980.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. van Schaik, C. P. 1989. The ecology of social relationships amongst female primates. In:Comparative Socioecology: the Behavioural Ecology of Humans and Other Mammals,Standen,V.;Foley,R. (eds.) Blackwell Scientific Publ., Oxford, pp. 195–218.Google Scholar
  50. Sterck, E. H. M.;Steenbeek, R. 1997 Female dominance relationships and food competition in the sympatric Thomas langur and long-tailed macaque.Behaviour, 134: 749–774.Google Scholar
  51. Sterck, E. H. M.;Watts, D. P.;van Schaik, C. P. 1997. The evolution of female social relationships in nonhuman primates.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 41: 291–309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Thierry, B. 1985. Patterns of agonistic interactions in three species of macaques (Macaca mulatta, M. fascicularis, andM. tonkeana).Aggr. Behav. 11: 223–233.Google Scholar
  53. Thierry, B. 1990. Feedback loop between kinship and dominance: the macaque model.J. Theor. Biol., 145: 511–521.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. Thierry, B.;Anderson, J. R.;Demaria, C.;Desportes, C.;Petit, O. 1994. Tonkean macaque behaviour from the perspective of the evolution of Sulawesi macaques. In:Current Primatology, Vol. 2Roeder, J. J.;Thierry, B.;Anderson, J. R.;Herrenschmidt, N. (eds.), Louis Pasteur Univ. Press, Strasbourg, pp. 103–117.Google Scholar
  55. Vehrencamp, S. L. 1983. A model for the evolution of despotic versus egalitarian societies.Anim. Behav., 31: 667–682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. de Waal, F. B. M. 1989.Peacemaking Among Primates. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
  57. de Waal, F. B. M.;Luttrell, L. M. 1989. Toward a comparative socioecology of the genusMacaca: different dominance styles in rhesus and stumptail monkeys.Amer J. Primatol., 19: 83–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  58. Waser, P. M. 1982. The evolution of male loud calls among mangabeys and baboons. In:Primate Communication,Snowdon,C. T.;Brown,C. H.;Petersen,M. R. (eds.) Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 117–143.Google Scholar
  59. Watanabe, K.;Matsumura, S. 1996. Social organization of moor macaques,Macaca maurus, in the Karaenta Nature Reserve, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. In:Variations in the Asian Macaques,Shotake,T.;Wada,K. (eds.) Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo, pp. 147–162.Google Scholar
  60. Wimberger, P. H.;de Queiroz, A. 1996. Comparing behavioral and morphological characters as indicators of phylogeny. InPhylogenies and the Comparative Method in Animal Behavior,Martin,E. (ed.), Oxford Univ. Press, New York, pp. 206–233.Google Scholar
  61. Wrangham, R. W. 1980. An ecological model of female-bonded primate groups.Behaviour, 75: 262–300.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Japan Monkey Centre 1999

Authors and Affiliations

  • Shuichi Matsumura
    • 1
  1. 1.Primate Research InstituteKyoto UniversityInuyama, AichiJapan

Personalised recommendations