Immature Male Chimpanzees’ (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) Social Relationships with Adult Males, but Not Peers, Persist into Adulthood

Puberty initiates a unique stage of social learning and development prior to adulthood: Insights from studies of adolescence in wild chimpanzees

“…This change occurs in adolescence ( Fig. 4 ), as becoming a socially and reproductively successful male chimpanzees requires forging and maintaining social relationships with family members and non-family members ( Nishida, 1983 , Langergraber et al, 2013 , Bray et al, 2021b , Feldblum et al, 2021 , Reddy et al, 2021 ). Importantly, male chimpanzees do not “inherit” familial rank status.…”

“… Langergraber et al, 2013 ; Reddy and Mitani, 2020 ; Reddy et al, 2021 ). Indeed, mentors are often “familiar” males from infancy and juvenility, and likely to be adolescent males’ biological fathers, if they are alive ( Box 4 ; Sandel, 2017 ; Sandel et al, 2020 ; Bray et al, 2021b ).…”

Multiple behavioural mechanisms shape development in a highly social cichlid fish

“…Social interactions and stimuli can make up a substantial part of juvenile experience. Depending on the species and group structure, early social interactions can involve parents (maternal, paternal, or biparental care) (Champagne & Curley, 2005;McClelland et al, 2011;Perkeybile et al, 2013), parental helpers (Arnold & Taborsky, 2010;Taborsky et al, 2012), siblings (Branchi et al, 2013;Buist et al, 2013;D'Andrea et al, 2007;Monclús et al, 2012), peers (Ahloy Dallaire & Mason, 2017;Bölting & von Engelhardt, 2017;Förster & Cords, 2005;Moretz et al, 2007;Weinstein et al, 2014), and other members of the group (Bray, Murray, et al, 2021;Förster & Cords, 2005;Jin et al, 2015), as well as observations of others interacting (Clay & de Waal, 2013;Desjardins et al, 2012;Oliveira et al, 1998). Identifying the specific, proximate causes-the behavioral mechanisms-is critical to understanding how gene-by-environment interactions shape processes of developmental plasticity and behavioral developmental trajectories.…”

“…For example, mouse pups in mixed-age, communal nests interact with siblings at varying rates and receive different levels of maternal care (Branchi et al, 2013); infant blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) receive varying rates of allomaternal care, and from different non-mothers in the group (Förster & Cords, 2005); immature male chimpanzees socially associate with adult males at different rates (Bray, Feldblum, et al, 2021); and young male long-tailed manakins occupy varied positions in the social network (McDonald, 2007). This variation can have long-term effects on social behavior (e.g., (Branchi et al, 2013;Bray, Murray, et al, 2021;McDonald, 2007). Therefore, to identify the behavioral mechanisms underlying behavioral development, it is necessary to observe individuals in the rearing environment and was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder.…”

Heritable and sex-specific variation in the development of social behavior in a wild primate

“…Social relationships in early life are also important, as they represent crucial opportunities to develop social skills and may have long-lasting consequences in their own right. For instance, in many species, positive social environments early in life are linked to better social relationships in adulthood (3)(4)(5)(6)(7), better health (3,8), and increased longevity (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). In primates, social bonds are commonly developed and maintained through social grooming, a primary affiliative behavior in many species, including baboons (14)(15)(16)(17).…”