Abstract
Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is one of the most endangered primate species found in China, exhibiting multilevel society consisting of several one-male-females together with their offspring units (OMU), and all-male units (AMU). Female dispersal patterns of the species within herd have been well documented, whereas those of the males within or between herds are still poorly understood. Our results based a long-term observation indicate that more than half of sub-adult males, and half of the deposed males that stayed a short period in OMU disperse between herds, three of them established their own OMU in new herd after the dispersal. Smaller number of the sub-adult and adult males, compared with adult females, stayed in natal herd, implying sub-adult males started dispersing and male-biased dispersal occurred between herds. High frequencies of resident males were wounded as their OUMs were taken over, and resident males co-operation defend bachelor males were found. Mating competition among males within the herd may have contributed to the scenarios of male-biased dispersal. The results also suggest that maintaining connection between isolated herds and establishing the corridors among the fragmented habitats for the species will greatly benefit increasing its gene flow and promoting conservation status.
Highlights
The diversity of animal social systems represents an evolutionary alternative developments and adaptations responding to environmental and social pressures[1,2,3]
All of the six sub-adult males stayed in natal herd established their one-male breeding units (OMU), while one of them lost his OMU’s term in one year
Half of the deposed males who’s leadership of OMU lasted for 8 years on average still stayed in natal herd; one of them established his OMU with two former females for 3 months. Another six deposed males maintained their leadership of OMU for less than one year; three of them still stayed in natal herd, and rest of them emigrated to the other herds
Summary
The diversity of animal social systems represents an evolutionary alternative developments and adaptations responding to environmental and social pressures[1,2,3]. Many studies have focused on the evolution of social system in primates and their selective pressure, which have provided supplementary information and references in understanding the same issues on human beings[3,4,5], but less effort has been devoted to the understanding of how primates’ social systems show adaptive behaviors when their envionments have rapidly changed[6]. Such understanding is critical to developing effective conservation strategies, policies and managements for protecting endangered primates like the golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Behavioral response of the deposed male to his former OMU females in natal herd has been studied[30], the whole life history of the males emigrated into neighboring herds has not been traced
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