Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Female rank and reproductive success among arashiyama B Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Five hypotheses that related female rank and reproductive success were tested in an intact troop of free-ranging, provisioned, Japanese macaques. The hypotheses stated that high-ranking females (1) begin parturition earlier in life than low-ranking females; (2) produce more offspring than low-ranking females; (3) give birth during some optimal time during the birth season to a greater extent than low-ranking females; (4) experience less infant mortality than low-ranking females;and (5) more frequently produce male offspring, while low-ranking females more frequently produce female offspring. A statistical analysis of the data which included three birth seasons and 55 adult females and 34 pubescent females, all of known age, rank, and matrifocal membership in the Arashiyama B troop, revealed few significant results. An association was found between the rank of the matrifocal unit and the age of first birth. However, the relationship was the reverse of hypothesis 1, i.e., females of the lower-ranking matrifocal units began parturition earlier than females of higher-ranking matrifocal units. Therefore, in this troop of Japanese monkeys— where alternative feeding strategies existed— there was little association between female rank and reproductive success.

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

  • Altmann, J. (1980).Baboon Mothers and Infants, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheney, D. L., Lee, P. C., and Seyfarth, R. M. (1981). Behavioral correlates of non-random mortality among free-ranging female vervet monkeys.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 9: 153–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickemann, M. (1979). Female infanticide, reproductive strategies, and social stratification: a preliminary model. In Chagnon, N. A., and Irons, W. (eds.),Evolutionary Biology and Human Social Behavior: An Anthropological Perspective, Duxbury Press, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drickamer, L. C. (1974). A ten-year summary of reproductive data for free-rangingMacaco mulatto.Folia primatol. 21: 61–90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M., and Dunbar, E. P. (1977). Dominance and reproductive success among female gelada baboons.Nature (Lond.) 266: 351–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W. D. (1967). Extraordinary Sex Ratios.Science 156:477–488.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanby, J. P., Robertson, L. T., and Phoenix, C. H. (1971). The sexual behavior of a confined troop of Japanese macaques.Folia primatol. 16: 123–143.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hrdy, S. (1977).The Langurs of Abu, Harvard University Press, Cambridgy, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hull, C. H., and Nie, N. H. (1981).SPSS Update 7–9, McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, N. (1967). On dominance rank and kinship of a wild Japanese monkey troop in Arashiyama.Primates 8:189–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, N. (1970). Changes in dominance rank and division of a wild Japanese monkey troop in Arashiyama.Primates 11: 335–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noyes, M. J. S. (1982). Dominance relations within large extended kinship groups in a troop of Japanese monkeys. Paper presented at the AAPA meetings, Eugene, Oregon.

  • Robinson, J. G. (1982). Intrasexual competition and mate choice in primates.Am. J. Primatol. (Suppl.) 1: 131–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell, T. E., and Richards, S. M. (1978). Reproductive strategies of some african monkeys.J. Mammal. 60(1): 58–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silk, J. B., Samuels, A., and Rodman, P. S. (1980). Rank, reproductive success, and skewed sex ratio inMacaca radiata.Am. J. phys. Anthropol. 52(2): 279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahata, Y. (1980). The reproductive biology of a free-ranging troop of Japanese monkeys.Primates 21 (3): 303–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trivers, R. L., and Willard, D. E. (1973). Natural selection of parental ability to vary the sex ratio of offspring.Science 179:90–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, L. D. (1981). The reproductive history of a hybrid female (Macaco mulatto xMacaca fuscata).Primates 22(1): 131–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, L. D., and Noyes, M. J. S. (1981). Reproductive senescence among female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata).J. Mammal. 62(4): 698–705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, Florida

    Linda D. Wolfe

Authors
  1. Linda D. Wolfe
    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

Wolfe, L.D. Female rank and reproductive success among arashiyama B Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Int J Primatol 5, 133–143 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735737

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735737

Key words

Search

Navigation