Both aggressive and affiliative behaviour facilitate resource access in high-ranking female long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Anne M Overduin-De Vries,Marjolijn M Vermande,Han De Vries,Elisabeth H.M Sterck,Albert H.A Reijntjes

doi:10.1163/1568539x-bja10001

Abstract

Abstract Access to limited resources may be achieved by dominance as well as by high rates of aggressive and affiliative behaviour. We investigated the relative effectiveness of dominance rank and aggressive and affiliative behaviour in accessing three material and three social resources. Aggressive and affiliative behaviour of 24 female long-tailed macaques was scored along with their success in resource access. Path models revealed that high-ranking individuals have more access to resources than low-ranking ones through their employment of both aggressive and affiliative behaviour. Physical aggression was effective in accessing two material resources (food and enrichment). Affiliative behaviour was effective in accessing one material (co-drinking) and one social (tolerance) resource. In conclusion, since aggressive behaviour was effective in accessing two material resources, while affiliative behaviour increased access to both a material and a social resource, affiliative behaviour is at least as important as aggressive behaviour for high-ranking individuals to access resources.

Highlights

Access to scarce resources within a group of animals is very often skewed
When controlling for the direct and indirect effects of dominance rank on resource access, as well as for the indirect effects of the social behaviours on resource access, using path analysis, we found significant direct effects of social behaviours on access to resources (Figure 1)
We investigated whether aggressive and affiliative behaviour in female longtailed macaques facilitated access to three material and to three social resources

Summary

Introduction

Access to scarce resources within a group of animals is very often skewed This is especially the case in hierarchically structured groups, where high-. Recent studies among children found that bistrategic individuals, i.e., children that show high rates of both aggressive and affiliative behaviour, are most successful in accessing resources (e.g., Hawley, 2003; Olthof et al, 2011; Roseth et al, 2011). Such dual use of both aggressive and affiliative behaviour may be present in animals. In animals the influence of aggressive and affiliative behaviours on resource access are typically investigated separately

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