Patterns Of Agonistic Interactions Research Articles

Agonistic and grooming behavior of captive crowned lemurs (Lemur coronatus) during the breeding season

Captive breeding of rare and endangered prosimians may be enhanced by an increased understanding of all aspects of their seasonal mating behavior. In this study, the agonistic and grooming behaior of captiveL. coronatus were studied during their annual breeding season. Between October and March, selected aspects of agonistic and grooming behavior of four male-female groups were recorded. Males initiated significantly more allogrooming than females. The frequency of this behavior pattern increased significantly in the weeks of estrus. Females performed significantly more agonistic behavior patterns than males. The mean frequency of agonistic interactions decreased significantly during the breeding season. In successfully reproducing groups males showed much less agonism towards females, than they did in unsuccessful groups. Inter-specific comparisons demonstrated that the patterns of agonistic interactions during the breeding season are very different among closely related species of lemurids. The conclusions drawn from this study are that captive breeding of crowned lemurs may be enhanced by keeping permanent multi-male, multi-female groups.

Patterns of agonistic interactions in three species of macaque (Macaca mulatta, M fascicularis, M tonkeana)

Patterns of aggression and response to aggression were studied in three groups ofmacaques living in semiliberty, each group representing a different species: Macacamulatta, M fascicularis, and M tonkeana. In Macaca mulatta, intensity of aggressionis high G>iting is frequent) and symmetry in aggression is low: the aggressee most oftenflees or submits. In Macaca tonkeana, in contrast, biting is exceptional, aggression isvery often bidirectional, and appeasement behaviors are frequently observed. Inter-mediate patterns are found in Macaca fascicularis with, in addition, especially frequentmild forms of submission. It is argued that relationships exist between intensity ofaggression, symmetry in aggression, and development of behaviors controlling aggres-sion. Whether balances between these variables are species-speciric is discussed.Key words: aggression, control of aggression, interspecific comparisons, macaques

Long-term patterns of agonistic interactions in a captive group of wolves ( Canis lupus)

Agonistic interactions were recorded in a captive group of wolves ( Canis lupus) for a period of 21 months. Seventy-five per cent of all interactions were accounted for by only 4 or less of a possible 28 pairs during any given period of the study. Several animals were involved in very few agonistic interactions, and in many relationships such interactions were absent. Patterns of agonistic interaction alone did not suggest social relationships or an overall social structure applicable to all group members, although some evidence of a dominance hierarchy was found. Patterns of agonistic interactions were shown to involve several independent dimensions in different relationships. Further details of an underlying social organization are likely to emerge only from long-term studies which examine several dimensions of, and the interrelations between, a wide range of social interactions.

Individual distance in crustacea: IV. Distance and dominance hierarchies inPagurus pollicaris

The agonistic acts and distances separating interacting individuals when acts occurred were recorded for specimens of the hermit crab Pagurus pollicaris. Individuals were observed in groups of six under several conditions (during a snail predation, with food in the aquarium, and nothing in the aquarium except the crabs before and after the crabs had access to empty gastropod shells). The pattern of agonistic interactions within the groups showed a high degree of order, but the lack of changes in behavior over time indicated these crabs have an aggressive order rather than a dominance hierarchy. The distances separating crabs when acts were executed were significantly affected by (1) the act being executed, (2) the act executed previously by the other crab, (3) the size of the acting crab, (4) the relative size difference of the two interactants, (5) the individual crabs’ identities, and (6) the condition of observation. The individual crab effects on distance were present when crab size was controlled and...

"Individual" recognition and agonistic behaviour in Pagurus bernhardus.

THERE have been many reports of animals which show some degree of organization in the patterns of agonistic interactions seen in small groups (reviewed in ref. 1) and in several cases the organization was said to be based, in part, on past experience within the group2. When the members of a group alter their intra-group behaviour as a result of past experience, these alterations can be either of a general nature (overall changes in aggressive drive) or can be directed toward group members, which must therefore be recognized in some way.