Kinship Structure and Its Impact on Behavior in Multilevel Societies

Abstract

Abstract The link between kinship structure and social behavior in primate societies has been fairly well documented in several species of Old World monkeys with multimale/multifemale social systems (e.g., macaques [Macaca spp.], savanna baboons [Papio spp.] and vervets [Cercopithecus aethiops]). In these species, dispersal is male biased, and females tend to establish strong and enduring bonds and alliances with maternal kin (Gouzoules & Gouzoules 1987). In contrast, much less is known about the impact of kinship structure on the behavior and decision-making processes of individuals in monkey species with one-male/multifemale social systems, in which the species’ typical dispersal pattern can be more variable. For example, both sexes may transfer or female resident patterns may prevail. To complicate matters further, some of these species may form fusionfission, multilayered societies, in which individuals establish and maintain relationships with others at various levels of nested groupings. For example, hamadryas (Papio hamadryas) and geladas (Theropithecus gelada) are known to organize themselves into one-male units, clans or teams, bands, and troops or herds (harnadryas: Sigg et al. 1982; Abegglen 1984; Kummer 1968a, 1984; gelada: Dunbar & Dunbar 1975; Kawai 1979; Kawai et al. 1983; Dunbar 1984, 1986, 1988a).