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2 - The social systems of the guenons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2009

By
P. Buzzard  and
W. Eckardt
Edited by
W. Scott McGraw ,
Klaus Zuberbühler  and
Ronald Noë
W. Scott McGraw
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Klaus Zuberbühler
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
Ronald Noë
Affiliation:
Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg
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Summary

Introduction

The social system of a species includes the nature of the interactions of individuals between and within social units and the spatial distribution of different age/sex classes. For primates, theories concerning the evolution of social systems are typically based on field data from a restricted number of species, with a clear bias towards species living in more open habitats (Sterck et al. 1997). This is problematic because the forest is a major primate habitat, housing a large number of primate species. The social behavior of most forest-living primates is not well described, primarily due to the difficulties in accessibility and observation conditions. In this respect the forest guenons (Cercopithecus spp.) are of particular interest for evolutionary theories because they represent a major group of Old World primates.

It is theorized that female primates live in social groups because of anti-predation benefits (van Schaik 1983, van Schaik & van Hoof 1983) and because group-living improves their capacity to defend resources against other groups of conspecifics (Wrangham 1980). Across species, female primates differ in the types of social relations they maintain with one another to achieve these goals. It has been proposed that the relative strengths of inter- and intra-group competition are the two main factors that determine the nature of the females' social relationships and their social system (Sterck et al. 1997, Table 2.1).

Across primate species, inter-group encounters can vary from friendly intermingling to hostile fights.

Type
Chapter
Information
Monkeys of the Taï Forest
An African Primate Community
 , pp. 51 - 71
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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