Conflicts induce affiliative interactions among bystanders in a tolerant species of macaque (Macaca tonkeana)

Abstract

Keywords: aggression appeasement Macaca tonkeana polyadic interaction primate social tension Tonkean macaque Aggression is potentially disruptive for social groups. Although individuals witnessing a conflict are not directly threatened by aggressive interactions, the aftermath of aggression appears to be a period of social instability. We expected bystanders to respond to conflicts by affiliating with other group members and so reducing social tension. To test this hypothesis we collected data on two captive groups of Tonkean macaques, Macaca tonkeana. After an agonistic interaction, the behaviours of focal individuals uninvolved in the conflict were recorded over 5 min postconflict periods, for comparison with baseline periods. The results showed that bystanders were more likely to show affiliation during postconflict periods than in baselines. We found that affiliation occurred more frequently between individuals linked by friendship, whereas no significant effect of kinship appeared, which may be related to the open social relationships reported in Tonkean macaques. Females initiated affiliation sooner than males and conflicts involving physical contact were more quickly followed by affiliation between bystanders. Rates of scratching tended to decrease after the first affiliative interaction. None the less, few signs of anxiety were observed in bystanders. Our results reflect the high propensity of Tonkean macaques to appease others and stop aggression. This study demonstrates that postconflict affiliation occurs between bystanders in a species characterized by tolerant social relationships. It could be a pervasive means of social cohesion among primates. Ó

Interactions Between Third Parties and Consortship Partners in Tonkean Macaques (Macaca tonkeana)

“…To assess dominance relationships we built a matrix of supplantations. We then used MatMan version 1.0 (Noldus Information Technology, Wageningen, The Netherlands) to rank individuals in a dominance hierarchy (De Marco et al 2010).…”

“…The majority of researchers have focused on the behavior of sexual partners and competitors, and little is known about their influence on group-mates. Recent studies have shown that the outburst of conflicts influences the behavior not only of opponents but also of uninvolved individuals; in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) and Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana), bystanders are more likely to affiliate with one another to cope with social tension after fights (De Marco et al 2010;Judge and Mullen 2005). In several species, individuals use social grooming to reduce the tension generated when group members anticipate the competition induced by a forthcoming food distribution (Macaca arctoides: Mayagoitia et al 1993; Pan troglodytes: Koyama and Dunbar 1996; Cebus apella: Polizzi di Sorrentino et al 2010).…”

Facial expression: An under-utilised tool for the assessment of welfare in mammals

“…Displacement activities appear when conflicting motivations are experienced simultaneously or when an animal is frustrated in performing a motivated action (Maestripieri et al, 1992). Displacement activities may present as a wide range of actions including licking, yawning, chewing and mouth twisting (Baker and Aureli, 1997;De Marco et al, 2010;Vick and Paukner, 2010;Mohiyeddinin and Semple, 2013). Displacement yawning is broadly recognized to increase with anxiety or social conflict in primates (e.g., Macaca nigra, Hadidian, 1980;M.…”

“…Pain will be examined in a separate section due to its specific, well-defined contribution to poor welfare states, as well as the comparatively large body of literature on facial indicators of pain. In mammals, facial expressions have been extensively Cabanac and Lafrance, 1990Spotila et al, 1977Wells, 1978;Robertshaw, 2006Gaughwin, 1979Stahlbaum and Houpt, 1989;Weeks et al, 2002;Charpentier et al, 2013Fox, 1970Sandem and Braastad, 2005;Kaiser et al, 2006;Bennett et al, 2012 Sefcek andKing, 2007;Knierim et al, 2007Partan, 2002Parr et al, 2005Parr et al, , 2007Bethell et al, 2012 Baker andAureli, 1997;Sandem et al, 2002;De Marco et al, 2010;Vick and Paukner, 2010Nagasawa et al, 2013Redbo, 1998Mason et al, 2007;Fernandez et al, 2008;Mason, 2010;Fureix et al, 2011;Tan et al, 2013Fox, 1970Waller and Dunbar, 2005;Judge and Bachmann, 2013;Yanagi andBerman, 2014 Craig et al, 1991;Langford et al, 2010;Sotocinal et al, 2011;Leach et al, 2012;Dalla Costa et al, 2014;Wathan et al, 2015;McLennan et al, 2...…”

Collective arousal when reuniting after temporary separation in Tonkean macaques

“…They show great propensity for appeasement and reconciliation of group members after conflict (Demaria and Thierry, 2001;Thierry et al, 2008). They are also characterized by complex polyadic interactions; when conflicts occur third parties can stop aggression by addressing appeasement signals to adversaries , and groupmates uninvolved in a conflict are more likely to affiliate with one another after witnessing it (De Marco et al, 2010).…”