Emergence of sex-segregated behavior and association patterns in juvenile spider monkeys

Rodrigues, Michelle A.

doi:10.1896/044.021.0204

Cited by 11 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi , and cowbirds, Molothrus ater , segregate as juveniles (Kohn et al 2011; Rodrigues 2014). Segregation within the natal group suggests that ontogenetic social factors could be important (Gaudin et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species

Whiteside

Horik

Langley

et al. 2017

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Hypotheses for why animals sexually segregate typically rely on adult traits, such as differences in sexual roles causing differential habitat preferences, or size dimorphism inducing differences in diet or behaviour. However, segregation can occur in juveniles before such roles or size dimorphism is well established. In young humans, leading hypotheses suggest that (1) sexes differ in their activity and the synchronisation of behaviour causes segregation and (2) sexes separate in order to learn and maximise future reproductive roles. We reared pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, from hatching in the absence of adults in a controlled environment. Females aggregated with their own sex from hatching, whereas males initially exhibited random association, but segregation became pronounced with age. The increase in segregation corresponded to an increase in sexual size dimorphism. By standardising habitat availability and diet and by removing predation risk, we could disregard the Predation Risk and the Forage Selection Hypotheses operating at this age. Activity budgets did not differ between the sexes, providing no support for the Behavioural Synchrony or the Activity Budget Hypotheses. Both sexes preferentially approached groups of unfamiliar, same-sex birds in binary choice tests, providing support for the Social Preference Hypothesis. Females may segregate to avoid male aggression. Sexual segregation may become established early in development, especially in precocial species, such as pheasants. A clear understanding of ontogenetic factors is essential to further our understanding of adult assortment patterns. Assortment by sex may not be inherent, but rather emerge as a consequence of social interactions early in life.Significance statementHypotheses pertaining to the force driving sexual segregation typically rely on adult traits, such as size dimorphism or differences in sexual roles. However, in some species, animals segregate as juveniles, so that most hypotheses previously invoked to explain sexual segregation in adults are irrelevant. We reared pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, from hatching and monitored multiple aspects of the chicks’ life history in an effort to determine what causes sexual segregation. Females aggregate with their own sex from hatching, whereas males initially have a more random association, but segregation becomes pronounced as both sexes got older, coinciding with greater sexual dimorphism. We controlled for influences of predation risk and dietary/habitat choice and found that activity budgets did not differ between the sexes. Instead, we found that both sexes preferred their own sex when presented with a binary choice, providing evidence that social preference could drive sexual segregation in pheasants.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species

Whiteside

Horik

Langley

et al. 2017

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…Furthermore, highquality relationships with both parents were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. In the path analysis, which incorporated 4.1 | Support for the tend-and-befriend hypothesis (Rodrigues, 2007b(Rodrigues, , 2014.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Primates have an extended life history pattern, in which reaching adulthood is delayed in part to facilitate social learning (Joffe, 1997;Pagel & Harvey, 2002;Pereira & Leigh, 2003;Rodrigues, 2007Rodrigues, , 2014. Prolonged adolescence is characterized by extended brain maturation in areas involved with social cognition and decisionmaking (Bogin, 1997;Hrvoj-Mihic, Bienvenu, Stefanacci, Muotri, & Semendeferi, 2013;Semendeferi & Hanson, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From maternal tending to adolescent befriending: The adolescent transition of social support

Rodrigues

Sanford

Rogers

et al. 2019

American J Primatol

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Attachment theory holds that parental relationships have lifelong effects on offspring social lives. The tend-and-befriend hypothesis posits that female friendships among humans evolved as part of a primate-wide coping mechanism to mediate stress by relying on social support. Here we bridge developmental and evolutionary frameworks to examine adolescent girls' perception of their reliance on female friendship for social support, how perceptions of parental relationships affect peer relationships, and the extent to which parent and peer relationships buffer depressive symptoms. We predict perceived maternal relationship quality will be positively associated with close female friendships, and maternal relationships, paternal relationships, and female friendship will buffer depressive symptoms. Participants were adolescent girls from a summer science camp (N = 95). Participants filled out demographic information, social network surveys, the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale, and the Center for Epidemiology Depression Scale. Data was analyzed with Pearson's correlations, t tests, and path analysis. Adolescent girls with few female friends, compared with girls who had more than two very close female friends, experienced more depressive symptoms (t = 3.382, p = .001, D = 0.784). Adolescent girls with few female friends experienced more depressive symptoms compared to girls with two or more very close female friends (t = 3.382, p = .001, D = 0.784). Stronger maternal and paternal relationships were associated with having more female friends (maternal: t = −3.213, p = .003, D = 0.837; paternal: t = −2.432; p = .017). In the path analysis model, only maternal relationship quality significantly predicted female friendship category (β = .33, CR = 2.770, p < .006). Furthermore, participants with two or more very close female friends and higher paternal relationship quality had significantly fewer depressive symptoms (friends; β = −.19, CR = −2.112, p = .035; paternal: β = −.33, CR = −3.220, p < .001), and older participants had more depressive symptoms (β = .17, CR = −1.931, p = .036). These results provide additional support for the tend-and-befriend hypothesis, suggesting that maternal tending sets the stage for close female friendships.

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“…Two Geoffroy’s spider monkey communities are present at El Zota: one community ranges in the northern primary forest, and the other ranges in the southern secondary forest (Lindshield 2006; Pruetz and LaDuke 2001; Rodrigues 2007, 2014; Rodrigues et al 2015). I studied the well-habituated Pilón community, which ranges in the southern secondary forest adjacent to the field station.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Cope with Anthropogenic Disturbance Through Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Rodrigues

2017

Int J Primatol

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Most primates live in habitats with some level of anthropogenic disturbance, and such disturbances have a larger impact on frugivorous primates that are more sensitive to ecological disruptions than folivores. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites provide insight into how the external environment affects internal physiological state, and thus provide information on how anthropogenic pressures become embodied. Here, I examine how subgroup size and glucocorticoids vary with high and low fruit abundance, and how fruit abundance, subgroup size, and activity budget affect fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in female spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) living in an anthropogenically disturbed habitat. I measured these variables via behavioral, ecological, and fecal sampling for 15 months in 17 female spider monkeys at El Zota Biological Field Station. Subgroup size was significantly larger during periods of high fruit abundance, but glucocorticoids did not differ between periods of low and high fruit abundance. Monthly fruit abundance predicted subgroup sizes significantly, but did not predict fecal glucocorticoid concentrations. Increased resting time and reproductive state predicted fecal glucocorticoid concentrations significantly, but travel and foraging time had no significant effect on glucocorticoid concentrations. Individual resting time over the study period correlated negatively with glucocorticoid concentrations. These results suggest that spider monkeys cope with variation in fruit abundance by adjusting subgroup size, and that these adjustments may mitigate environmental stress in this mildly seasonal environment. The large, relatively productive forest size at this site, and the availability of anthropogenic food sources, enable this population of spider monkeys to cope with human-induced habitat disturbance.

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Emergence of sex-segregated behavior and association patterns in juvenile spider monkeys

Cited by 11 publications

References 37 publications

Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species

Differences in social preference between the sexes during ontogeny drive segregation in a precocial species

From maternal tending to adolescent befriending: The adolescent transition of social support

Female Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Cope with Anthropogenic Disturbance Through Fission–Fusion Dynamics

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