Patterns of Paternity in Relation to Male Social Rank in the Stumptailed Macaque, Macaca arctoides

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1994
Authors:Bauers, KA, Hearn, JP
Journal:Behaviour
Volume:129
Pagination:149-176
Date Published:1994
ISBN Number:00057959
Keywords:Macaca arctoides, PRIMATES
Abstract:

The macaques have been a central focus of research designed to illuminate the interrelationship of behaviour and patterns of genetic transmission in non-human primates. Due to unique aspects of the socio-sexual behaviour and reproductive biology of stumptailed macaques (Macaca arctoides), we hypothesized a stronger relationship between male status and reproductive success than has been documented in other macaque species. The relationship between male social rank and success in siring offspring was examined for a sequence of 27 infants born over an 8-year period (1984-1992) in a large captive social group. Paternity of 25 of the 27 infants (all those still living at the time of testing) was confirmed with the use of "DNA profile tests" using mini-satellite, multi-locus probes in collaboration with Drs. Casna and Gergits of Therion Corp. Results showed that each of three consecutive alpha males was effective in achieving a virtual monopoly in siring offspring during his tenure, with one exception possibly related to inbreeding avoidance. Although patterns of sexual behaviour are not emphasized in this report, behavioural observations over the past six years support the findings of other researchers regarding the alpha male's extreme intolerance of mating by subordinate males. Covert mating by subordinate males occurred, though this was not reflected in paternity of young born. The data suggest that environmental restrictions (e.g. of space and privacy) in captivity are influential in restricting the reproductive opportunities of subordinate males, in accord with previous suggestions of Estep et al. (1988). Research with two wild groups has been initiated to gather comparative data on these issues. We predict that greater diversity in paternity will characterize age cohorts in wild groups of stumptailed macaques, due to the greater social dependencies existing between males (e.g. for group defense), and because the alpha male may not be as able to effectively monitor or monopolize females in more natural environments. However, we predict that both in nature and in captivity, diversity in paternity in stumptail groups will be less than that in comparable groups of other macaque species, for reasons related to the unique role of the alpha male stumptail in a social organization which reflects highly developed defensive capacities, and to the comparatively greater reproductive investment that infants represent in this slow-breeding species.

URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/4535193
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith