Abstract
I examined the vigilance behavior of adult males and females in two groups of ring-tailed lemurs(Lemur catta)during the birth and lactation season at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, southwestern Madagascar. I found no sex difference with respect to the rates of overall vigilance, rates of vigilance toward a potential predator or unfamiliar sound, or rates of vigilance toward conspecifics from other social groups, nor were there sex differences in the percentage of time spent vigilant in any of the above categories. Higher-ranking females were vigilant significantly more often toward predators or potential predators than lower-ranking females were. I detected no relationship between vigilance behavior and dominance rank among adult males. The alpha female in each group exhibited significantly more vigilance behavior than all other members of her group. It was predicted that males should exhibit more vigilance behavior than females do, particularly during the birth and lactation season, when predator pressure is high, if they are benefiting females in this respect. I discuss the results in the context of this prediction and in terms of how ring-tailed lemur males benefit females, and why they may be tolerated in social groups.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altmann, J. (1974). Observational study of behavior: Sampling methods.Behaviour 48: 1–41.
Artiss, T., and Martin, K. (1995). Male vigilance in white-tailed ptarmigan,Lagopus eucurus: Mate guarding or predator detection?Anim. Behav. 49: 1249–1258.
Baldellou, M., and Henzi, P. (1992). Vigilance, predator detection and the presence of supernumerary males in vervet monkey troops.Anim. Behav. 43: 451–461.
Boinski, S. (1988). Sex differences in the foraging behavior of squirrel monkeys.Am. J. Primatol 17: 41–49.
Budnitz, N., and Dainis, K. (1975).Lemur catta: Ecology and behavior. In Tattersall, I., and Sussman, R. W. (eds.),Lemur Biology, Plenum, New York, pp. 219–235.
Caine, N. G., and Marra, S. L. (1988). Vigilance and social organization in two species of primates.Anim. Behav. 36: 897–904.
Cheney, C. L., and Seyfarth, R. M. (1981). Selective forces affecting the predator alarm calls of vervet monkeys.Behavior 76: 25–61.
Gautier-Hion, A. (1980). Seasonal variations of diet related to species and sex in a community of Cercopithecus monkeys.J. Anim. Ecol. 49: 237–269.
Goodman, S. M., O’Connor, S., and Langrand, O. (1993). A review of predation on lemurs: Implications for the evolution of social behavior in small, nocturnal primates. In Kappeler, P. M, and Ganzhorn, J. U. (eds.),Lemur Social Systems and their Ecological Basis, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 51–65.
Gould, L. (1989).Infant Social Development and Alloparenting in Free-Ranging Lemur catta, M. A. thesis, University of Alberta, Alberta.
Gould, L. (1992). Alloparental care in free-rangingLemur catta at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar.Folia Primatol 58: 72–83.
Gould, L. (1994).Patterns of Affiliation Behavior in Adult Male Ringtailed Lemurs (Lemur catta)at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, Madagascar, Ph.D. dissertation, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.
Gould, L. (1996). Male-female affiliative relationships in naturally occurring ringtailed lemurs(Lemur catta) at Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, Madagascar.Am. J. Primatol. 39: 63–78.
Janson, C. H. (1990). Ecological consequences of individual spatial choice in foraging groups of brown capuchin monkeys(Cebus apella).Anim. Behav. 40: 922–934.
Jolly, A. (1966).Lemur Behavior, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Jolly, A. (1972). Troop continuity and troop spacing inPropithecus verreawd andLemur catta at Berenty (Madagascar).Folia Primatol 17: 335.
Jolly, A., Rasamimanana, H. R., Kinnaird, M. F., O’Brien, T. G., Crowley, H. M., Harcourt, D. S., Gardner, S., and Davidson, J. M. (1993). Territoriality inLemur catta groups during the birth season at Berenty, Madagascar. In Kappeler, P. M., and Ganzhorn, J. O. (eds.),Lemur Social Systems and Their Ecological Basis, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 85–110.
Jones, K. C. (1983). Inter-troop transfer ofLemur catta males at Berenty, Madagascar.Folia Primatol 40: 145–160.
Mertl-Milhollen, A. S., Gustafson, H. L., Budnitz, N., Dainis, K., and Jolly, A. (1979). Population and territory stability of theLemur catta at Berenty, Madagascar.Folia Primatol 31: 106–122.
Pereira, M. E., Kaufman, R., Kappeler, P. M., and Overdorff, D. J. (1990). Female dominance does not characterize all of the Lemuridae.Folia Primatol 55: 96–103.
Ratsirarson, J. (1985).Contribution à l’étude comparée de l’écoethologie de Lemur catta dans deux habitats differents de la Reserve Speciale de Beza-Mahafaly, Memoire deFin d’Etudes dissertation, Université de Madagascar.
Rose, L. M. (1994). Benefits and costs of resident males to females in white-faced capuchins,Cebus capucinus J. Primatol 32: 235–248.
Rose, L. M., and Fedigan, L. M. (1995). Vigilance in white-faced capuchins(Cebus capucinus) in Costa Rica.Anim. Behav. 49: 63–70.
Sauther, M. L. (1989). Antipredator behavior in troops of free-rangingLemur catta at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar.Int. I. Primatol 10: 595–605.
Sauther, M. L. (1991). Reproductive behavior of free-rangingLemur catta at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar.Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 84: 463–477.
Sauther, M. L. (1992).The Effect of Reproductive State, Social Rank and Group Size on Resource Use Among Free-Ranging Ringtailed Lemurs (Lemur catta)of Madagascar, Ph.D. dissertation, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.
Sauther, M. L. (1993). Resource competition in wild populations of ringtailed lemurs(Lemur catta): Implications for female dominance. In Rappeler, P. M., and Ganzhorn, J. U. (eds.),Lemur Social Systems and Their Ecological Basic, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 135–152.
Sauther, M. L., and Sussman, R. W. (1993). A new interpretation of the social organization and mating system of the ringtailed lemur(Lemur catta). In Kappeler, P. M., and Ganzhorn, J. U. (eds.),Lemur Social Systems and Their Ecological Basis, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 111–121.
Siegal, S. (1956).Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Sokal, R. R., and Rohlf, F. J. (1981).Biometry, 2nd ed., W. H. Freeman, New York.
Sterling, E. J. (1993). Patterns of range use and social organization in aye-ayes(Daubentonia madagascariensis) on Nosy Mangabe. In Kappeler, P. M., and Ganzhorn, J. V. (eds.),Lemur Social Systems and Their Ecological Basis, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 1–10.
Sussman, R. W. (1974). Ecological distinctions between two species ofLemur. In Martin, R. D., Doyle, G. A., and Walker, A. C. (eds.),Prosimian Biology, Duckworth, London, pp. 75–108.
Sussman, R. W. (1977). Socialization, social structure and ecology of two sympatric species ofLemur. In Chevalier-Skolnikoff, S., and Poirier, F. (eds.),Primate Bio-Social Development, Garland, New York, pp. 525–529.
Sussman, R. W. (1991). Demography and social organization of free-rangingLemur catta in the Beza Mahafaly Reserve, Madagascar.Am. J. Phys, AnthropoL 84: 43–58.
Sussman, R. W. (1992). Male life histories and inter-group mobility among ringtailed lemurs(Lemur catta).Int. J. Pnmatol 13: 395–413.
Van Schaik, C. P., and van Noordjwick, M. A. (1989). The special role of maleCebus in predation avoidance and its effect on group composition.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 4: 265–276.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gould, L. Vigilance behavior during the birth and lactation season in naturally occurring ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at the Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, Madagascar. Int J Primatol 17, 331–347 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736625
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736625