Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:21:03.692Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors Affecting the Successful Pairing of Unfamiliar Common Marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus) Females: Preliminary Results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

B Majolo ,
H M Buchanan-Smith  and
K Morris
B Majolo*
Affiliation:
School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK Scottish Primate Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
H M Buchanan-Smith
Affiliation:
Scottish Primate Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
K Morris
Affiliation:
MRC Human Reproductive Science Unit, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9ET, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Laboratory primates are often housed in same-sex pairs to avoid single-housing and when breeding is to be prevented. However, pair formation is not without risks, as fights and injuries may occur. No data are available on pair formation in female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a species used extensively in laboratories. Therefore, this study focuses on the pairing of unfamiliar common marmoset females, aiming to assess its success rate and whether age can predict the result. Data on the study animals and success of the pairings were extracted from laboratory back-records: a total of 28 pairings was obtained. In addition, behavioural data were collected on six of the 28 pairs. Almost 80% of pairs were compatible beyond one week, and most of the fights occurred well within the first week after pair formation. Pairs in which one of the females was sexually immature (ie < 15 months) were significantly more compatible than pairs in which both females were post-pubertal. First encounters were characterised by sniffing of the unfamiliar monkey. Aggressive behaviours occurred frequently following pair formation but they were unidirectional, and in only two pairs was veterinary treatment required. This study shows that pairing of unfamiliar common marmoset females is a safe practice if one monkey is sexually immature, a result that supports observations of both group and pair formation in other primate species. However, given the potentially detrimental effects of removing young females from their natal groups, we argue that it is preferable to remove two sisters from their natal group when female pairs are required. However, when a single sexually mature female requires a pair mate so as to avoid single-housing and no mature sibling is available, an older, but still sexually immature, unfamiliar female that has had a normal development within the family should be considered as a pair mate.

Keywords

animal welfarecolony managementcommon marmosethusbandrypair formation
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , August 2003 , pp. 327 - 337
Copyright
© 2003 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Abbott, D H 1987 Behaviourally mediated suppression of reproduction in female primates. Journal of Zoology 213: 455–470CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Altmann, J 1974 Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behaviour 49: 227–267CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bernstein, I S 1989 Breeding colonies and psychological well-being. American Journal of Primatology 19: 31–36 (Suppl 1)Google Scholar
Byrum, R and St Claire, M 1998 Pairing female Macaca nemestrina. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 37(4): 1Google Scholar
Clarke, M R and Blanchard, J L 1994 All-male social group formation: does cutting canine teeth promote social integration? Laboratory Primate Newsletter 33(2): 5–8Google Scholar
Coe, C L 1991 Is social housing of primates always the optimal choice? In: Novak M A and Petto A J (eds) Through the Looking Glass pp 43–92. American Psychological Association: Washington, USAGoogle Scholar
Crockett, C M, Bowers, C L, Bowden, D M and Sackett, G P 1994 Sex differences in compatibility of pair-housed adult long-tailed macaques. American Journal of Primatology 32: 73–94CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Epple, G 1970 Maintenance, breeding and development of marmoset monkeys (Callitrichidae) in captivity. Folia Primatologica 12: 56–76CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Epple, G, Belcher, A M, Kuderling, I, Zeller, U, Scolnick, L, Greenfield, K L and Smith, A M III 1993 Making sense out of scents: species differences in scent glands, scent-marking behaviour, and scent-mark composition in the Callitrichidae. In: Rylands, A B (ed) Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour, and Ecology pp 123–151. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Evans, S 1983 The pair-bond of the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus jacchus: an experimental investigation. Animal Behaviour 31: 651–658CrossRefGoogle Scholar
French, J A and Inglett, B J 1989 Female-female aggression and male indifference in response to unfamiliar intruders in lion tamarins. Animal Behaviour 37: 487–497CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gwinn, L A 1996 A method for using a pole housing apparatus to establish compatible pairs among squirrel monkeys. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 35(4): 61Google Scholar
Hartner, M K, Hall, J, Penderhest, J and Clark, L P 2001 Group-housing subadult male cynomolgus macaques in a pharmaceutical environment. Lab Animal 30(8): 53–57Google Scholar
Koenig, A 1995 Group size, composition and reproductive success in wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). American Journal of Primatology 35: 311–317CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kummer, H 1995 In Quest of the Sacred Baboon. Princeton University Press: Princeton, USAGoogle Scholar
Kurth, B and Bryant, D 1998 Pairing female Macaca fascicularis. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 37(4): 3Google Scholar
Lehner, P N 1996 Handbook of Ethological Methods. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Line, S W, Markowitz, H, Morgan, K N and Strong, S 1991 Effects of cage size and environmental enrichment on behavioral and physiological responses of rhesus macaques to the stress of daily events. In: Novak, M A and Petto, A J (eds) Through the Looking Glass pp 161–179. American Psychological Association: Washington, USAGoogle Scholar
Lynch, R 1998 Successful pair-housing of female macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to pair formation. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 29(4): 2–5Google Scholar
Majolo, B 2001 The behaviour of common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) female pairs in the laboratory. Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Stirling: Stirling, UKGoogle Scholar
Reinhardt, V 1992 Avoiding aggression during and after pair formation of adult rhesus macaques. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 31(3): 10–11Google Scholar
Reinhardt, V 1997 Lighting conditions for laboratory monkeys: are they adequate? Animal Welfare Information Centre Newsletter 8(2): 3–6Google Scholar
Reinhardt, V 1998 Pairing Macaca mulatta and Macaca arctoides of both sexes. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 37(4): 2Google Scholar
Reinhardt, V, Liss, C and Stevens, C 1995 Social housing of previously single-caged macaques: what are the options and the risks? Animal Welfare 4: 307–328Google Scholar
Reinhardt, V and Reinhardt, A 2000 Meeting the “social space” requirements of pair-housed primates. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 39(1): 7Google Scholar
Rothe, H and Darms, K 1993 The social organization of marmosets: a critical evaluation of recent concepts. In: Rylands, A B (ed) Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour and Ecology pp 176–199. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Saltzman, W, Schultz-Darken, N J and Abbott, D H 1996 Behavioural and endocrine predictors of dominance and tolerance in female common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus. Animal Behaviour 51: 657–674CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schapiro, S J, Bloomsmith, M A, Porter, L M and Suarez, S A 1996 Enrichment effects on rhesus monkeys successively housed singly, in pairs, and in groups. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 48: 158–172CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schapiro, S J, Lee-Parritz, D E, Taylor, L L, Watson, L, Bloomsmith, M A and Petto, A J 1994 Behavioral management of specific pathogen-free rhesus macaques: group formation, reproduction, and parental competence. Laboratory Animal Science 44: 229–234Google ScholarPubMed
Siegel, S and Castellan, N J 1988 Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. McGraw-Hill: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Snowdon, C T and Savage, A 1989 Psychological well-being of captive primates: general considerations and examples from Callitrichids. In: Segal, E F (ed) Housing, Care and Psychological Well-Being of Captive and Laboratory Primates pp 74–88. Noyes Publications: Park Ridge, USAGoogle Scholar
Stamp Dawkins, M 1998 Evolution and animal welfare. The Quarterly Review of Biology 73: 305–328CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevenson, M F and Poole, T B 1976 An ethogram of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus jacchus): general behavioural repertoire. Animal Behaviour 24: 428–451CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stevenson, M F and Rylands, A B 1988 The marmosets, genus Callithrix. In: Mittermeier, R A, Rylands, A B, Coimbra-Filho, A F and da Fonseca, G A B (eds) Ecology and Behavior of Neotropical Primates, Vol 2 pp 131–222. World Wildlife Fund: Washington, USAGoogle Scholar
Tardif, S D, Richter, C B and Carson, R L 1984 Effects of sibling-rearing experience on future reproductive success in two species of Callitrichidae. American Journal of Primatology 6: 377–380CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vermeer, J 1997 The formation of a captive squirrel monkey group. International Zoo News 44: 146–149Google Scholar
Watson, L M 2002 A successful program for same- and cross-age pair-housing adult and sub-adult male Macaca fascicularis. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 41(2): 6–9Google Scholar
Westergaard, G C, Izard, M K, Drake, J D, Suomi, S J and Higley, J D 1999 Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) group formation and housing: wounding and reproduction in a specific pathogen free (SPF) colony. American Journal of Primatology 49: 339–3473.0.CO;2-E>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolff, A and Ruppert, G 1991 A practical assessment of a non-human primate exercise program. Lab Animal 20(2): 36–39Google Scholar
Yamamoto, M E 1993 From dependence to sexual maturity: the behavioural ontogeny of Callitrichidae. In: Rylands, A B (ed) Marmosets and Tamarins: Systematics, Behaviour and Ecology pp 235–254. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar