Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Group size in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys Cebus olivaceus and the reproductive success of males and females

  • Published:
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The effect of variation in group size on age-specific survivorship and fecundity rates were examined in a population of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys Cebus olivaceus during a 10 year study. Life tables were constructed separately for four large (≥15 individuals) and four small groups (<15 individuals). Female reproductive success, and its relative contribution to population growth, was much higher in large groups, primarily through higher age-specific fecundity. Age-specific survivorship was similar in groups of different sizes. The reproductive success of the single breeding male in a group was much higher in large than small groups. Compared to small groups, breeding males in large groups had a longer breeding tenure, and access to greater numbers of reproductive females with a higher average fecundity. Differences in female reproductive success apparently resulted from variation in access to monopolizable fruit trees. Large groups predictably displaced small groups during intergroup encounters. Group rank depended on the number of males resident in groups. The large number of non-breeding males in large groups results from their longer average residency time. I explain the longer residency of males in large groups by the higher average reproductive success of breeding males in these groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander RD (1974) The evolution of social behavior. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 5:325–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander RD, Tinkle DW (1981) Natural selection and social behavior. Recent research and new theory. Chiron Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Altmann SA (1974) Baboons, space, time, and energy. Am Zool 14:221–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Bateman AJ (1948) Intra-sexual selection in Drosophila. Heredity 2:349–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury JW, Vehrencamp SL (1977) Social organization and foraging in emballonurid bats. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun JB (1963) The social use of space. In: Mayer WV, van Gelder RG (eds) Physiological mammalogy, vol 1. Academic Press, New York, pp 1–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Caughley G (1977) Analysis of vertebrate populations. Wiley, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter CR (1942) Societies of monkeys and apes. Biol Symp 8:177–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman M, Hausfater G (1979) The reproductive consequences of infanticide in langurs: a mathematical model. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 5:227–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheney DL (1987) Interactions and relationships between groups. In: Smuts BB, Cheney DL, Seyfarth RM, Wrangham RW, Struhsaker TT (eds) Primate societies. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 267–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheney DL, Wrangham RW (1987) Predation. In: Smuts BB, Cheney DL, Seyfarth RM, Wrangham RW, Struhsaker TT (eds) Primate societies. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 267–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock TH (1977) Some aspects of intraspecific variation in feeding and ranging behaviour in primates. In: Clutton-Brock TH (ed) Primate ecology. Academic Press, New York, pp 539–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock TH, Guinness FE, Albon SD (1982) Red deer. Behaviour and ecology of two sexes. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock TH, Harvey PH (1977) Primate ecology and social organization. J Zool (London) 183:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Crook JH, Aldrich-Blake FPG (1968) Ecological and behavioural contrasts between sympatric ground-dwelling primates in Ethiopia. Folia Primatol 8:192–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Crook JH, Gartlan JS (1966) Evolution of primate societies. Nature 210:1200–1203

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVore I, Hall KRL (1965) Baboon ecology. In: DeVore I (ed) Primate behavior. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, pp 20–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar RIM (1987) Demography and reproduction. In: Smuts BB, Cheney DL, Seyfarth RM, Wrangham RW, Struhsaker TT (eds) Primate societies. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 240–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar RIM, Nathan MF (1972) Social organization of the Guinea baboon. Folia Primatol 17:321–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg JF, Muckenhirn NA, Rudran R (1972) The relation between ecology and social structure in primates. Science 176:863–874

    Google Scholar 

  • Emlen ST, Oring LW (1977) Ecology, sexual selection, and the evolution of mating systems. Science 197:215–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Gartlan JS, Brain CK (1968) Ecology and social variability in Cercopithecus aethiops and C. mitis. In: Jay P (ed) Primates: Studies in adaptation and variability. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, pp 253–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Green S (1978) Feeding, spacing, and movements as correlates of group size in the lion-tailed macaque. In: Chivers DJ, Herbert J (eds) Recent advances in primatology, vol 1. Academic Press, New York, pp 343–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Haddow AJ (1952) Field studies of the African redtail monkey: the composition, size and behaviour of bands. Proc Zool Soc Lond 122:297–394, Part II

    Google Scholar 

  • Harpending H (1976) Regional variation in !Kung populations. In: Lee RB, DeVore I (eds) Kalahari Hunter-Gatherers. Studies of the !Kung San and their neighbors. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp 152–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Hrdy SB (1974) Male-male competition and infanticide among langurs (Presbytis entellus) of Abu, Rajasthan. Folia Primatol 22:19–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Janson C (1986) Direct and indirect competition for food in brown capuchin monkeys. Primate Report 14:13

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotka AJ (1907) Relationship between birth rates and death rates. Science 26:21–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Mantel N (1966) Evaluation of survival data and two new rank order statistics arising in its consideration. Cancer Chemother Rep 50:163–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori A (1979) Analysis of population changes by measurement of body weight in the Koshima troop of Japanese monkeys. Primates 20:371–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrie M (1983) Female moorhens compete for small fat males. Science 220:413–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JG (1981) Spatial structure in foraging groups of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys Cebus nigrivittatus. Anim Behav 29:1036–1056

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JG (1986) Seasonal variation in use of time and space by the wedge-capped capuchin monkey Cebus olivaceus: Implications for foraging theory. Smiths Contribs Zool 431:1–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JG (1988) Demography and group structure in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys Cebus olivaceus. Behaviour 104:202–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JG, Janson CH (1987) Capuchins, squirrel monkeys and atelines: socioecological convergence. In: Smuts BB, Cheney DL, Seyfarth RM, Wrangham RW, Struhsaker TT (eds) Primate societies. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 69–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiter JR de (1986) The influence of group size on predator scanning and foraging behaviour of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus). Behaviour 98:240–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadleir RMS (1969) Ecology of reproduction in wild and domestic mammals. Methuen, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaik CP van (1983) Why are diurnal primates living in groups? Behaviour 87:120–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaik CP van, Noordwijk MA van, Boer RJ de, Tonkelaar I den (1983a) The effect of group size on time budgets and social behaviour in wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 13:173–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaik CP van, Warsono B, Sutriono E (1983b) Party size and early detection of predators in Sumatra forest primates. Primates 24:211–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1974) Statistical methods. Iowa State University Press, SPSS Ames, Iowa (1986) SPSSx User's Guide, 2nd edn. SPSS Inc, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Srikosamatara S (1987) Group size in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus): Vulnerability to predators, intragroup and intergroup feeding competition. PhD Dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville

  • Stacey PB (1986) Group size and foraging efficiency in yellow baboons. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 18:175–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugiyama Y (1967) Social organization of Hanuman langurs. In: Altmann SA (ed) Social communication among primates. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 221–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Terborgh J (1983) Five new world primates: A study in comparative ecology. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Waser PM (1977) Feeding, ranging, and group size in the mangabey Cercocebus albigena. In: Clutton-Brock TH (ed) Primate ecology. Academic Press, New York, pp 183–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Waser PM, Wiley RH (1979) Mechanisms and evolution of spacing in animals. In: Marler P, Vandenbergh JG (eds) Handbook of behavioral neurobiology. Vol 3: Social behavior and communication. Plenum Press, New York, pp 159–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrangham RW (1980) An ecological model of female-bonded primate groups. Behaviour 75:262–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrangham RW (1987) Evolution of social structure. In: Smuts BB, Cheney DL, Seyfarth RM, Wrangham RW, Struhsaker TT (eds) Primate societies. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 289–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman S (1932) The social life of monkeys and apes. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wildlife and Range Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA

    J. G. Robinson

Authors
  1. J. G. Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Robinson, J.G. Group size in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys Cebus olivaceus and the reproductive success of males and females. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 23, 187–197 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300353

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300353

Keywords

Search

Navigation