Individual participation in intergroup contests is mediated by numerical assessment strategies in black howler and tufted capuchin monkeys

Belle, Sarie Van; Scarry, Clara J

doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0007

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(128 reference statements)

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“…Van Belle & Scarry [37] observed communal defence in wild black howler (Aloutatta pigra) and tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus). They find that both species rely on assessment of numerical asymmetry in male group size (rather than total group size) when deciding to participate in communal defence.…”

Section: Ecology Group Size and Anticipated Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solving the puzzle of collective action through inter-individual differences

Rueden

Gavrilets

Glowacki

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'Solving the puzzle of collective action through inter-individual differences: evidence from primates and humans'. Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Models of collective action infrequently account for differences across individuals beyond a limited set of strategies, ignoring variation in endowment (e.g. physical condition, wealth, knowledge, personality, support), individual costs of effort, or expected gains from cooperation. However, behavioural research indicates these inter-individual differences can have significant effects on the dynamics of collective action. The papers contributed to this theme issue evaluate how individual differences affect the propensity to cooperate, and how they can catalyse others' likelihood of cooperation (e.g. via leadership). Many of the papers emphasize the relationship between individual decisions and socio-ecological context, particularly the effect of group size. All together, the papers in this theme issue provide a more complete picture of collective action, by embracing the reality of inter-individual variation and its multiple roles in the success or failure of collective action.

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Section: Ecology Group Size and Anticipated Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solving the puzzle of collective action through inter-individual differences

Rueden

Gavrilets

Glowacki

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…In the case of intergroup conflict, RHP can be operationally defined as group size, but the individual attributes of the group members may also play a part in determining competitive ability. Van Belle and Scarry (2015) found that black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) increased their participation in inter-group interactions when male group sizes were equal. Human intergroup contests can be analysed using a similar conceptual framework.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evolutionary View on Conflict Escalation in Team Sports Competitions

Grueter¹,

Johnson²,

Leaning

et al. 2016

HEB

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“…Although group size may establish the maximum possible RHP of a group by setting an upper limit on the number of coalitionary partners available, the realized RHP is determined by the number of individuals participating in the current contest. Variation in the context of an encounter may cause dyadic asymmetries in the number of participating individuals to fluctuate (e.g., Crofoot & Gilby, 2012;Koch, Signer, Kappeler, & Fichtel, 2016) either because individuals have different thresholds of participation (e.g., Arseneau-Robar, Taucher, Schnider, van Schaik, & Willems, 2017;Heinsohn and Packer, 1995;Kitchen, 2004;Kitchen, Horwich, & James, 2004;Van Belle & Scarry, 2015) or because individuals pursue disparate strategies during a single encounter (e.g., Arseneau-Robar, Taucher, van Schaik, & Willems, 2015, Koch et al, 2016. Moreover, when individual participation in intergroup aggression produces collective benefits that are shared with nonparticipating individuals (e.g., through home range exclusivity: Willems, Arseneau, Schleuning, & van Schaik, 2015), free-riding can create a disconnect between the maximum and realized RHP (Olson, 1965;Van Schaik, 1996;Nunn, 2000;Kitchen, 2004;Kitchen et al, 2004;Kitchen, 2006;Bonanni, Valsecchi, & Natoli, 2010;Harris, 2010;Crofoot & Gilby, 2012;Koch et al, 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Among Argentine tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus [Cebus apella] nigritus), although decided dominance relationships are apparent between most group dyads (Scarry, 2013), individuals frequently initiate and participate in aggressive encounters with dominant neighbors (Van Belle & Scarry, 2015). Within this population, male group size is the critical measure of a group's competitive ability, predictably determining the outcome of aggressive encounters (Scarry, 2013).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Within this population, male group size is the critical measure of a group's competitive ability, predictably determining the outcome of aggressive encounters (Scarry, 2013). Critically, both the maximum and realized RHP of competing groups fluctuate little over time (Scarry, 2013; but see Scarry & Tujague, 2012) because (a) male group composition is relatively stable (Janson, Baldovino, & Di Bitetti, 2012) and (b) dominant and subordinate males exhibit concordant strategies of participation (Scarry, 2017;Van Belle & Scarry, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Against all odds: Numerical assessment by tufted capuchin monkeys

Scarry

2020

American J Primatol

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When competitors are able to assess the asymmetry in the resource holding potential before interacting, individuals or groups should avoid interacting with stronger opponents, thereby avoiding the energy costs and risk of injury associated with aggressive intergroup encounters. Thus, escalated aggression is expected only between closely matched competitors. Among Argentine tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus), intergroup dominance is decided by the asymmetry in male group size. Using playback experiments, I simulated intergroup encounters with neighboring groups, manipulating both the apparent numerical asymmetry and the resource context. During experimental trials, I recorded the approach behavior of the focal individual, as well as changes in neighbor density and individual travel speed following the presentation of the playback stimulus, to assess whether individual willingness to participate in resource defense was affected by the probability of winning the encounter. In spite of the competitive disadvantage, neither males nor females showed a decreased probability of approach when the numerical odds strongly favored the opposing group. Instead decisions regarding whether to participate appear to be driven primarily by the resource context. Nevertheless, changes in individual behavior during approaches suggest that tufted capuchin monkeys are sensitive to the relative odds. Individuals accelerated less when approaching a larger group, although no changes in neighbor density were apparent. The absence of an effect of the numerical asymmetry on willingness to approach the playback speaker suggests that subordinate groups benefit from engaging in intergroup aggression with larger neighbors, despite the high probability of losing. These encounters may serve to assess the current subjective resource valuation of the neighboring group or limit territorial expansion by large groups by decreasing the marginal value of home range exclusivity. Because these encounters are riskier, however, individuals appear to alter their approaches, becoming more tentative as the numerical odds increasingly favor the opposing group.

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Individual participation in intergroup contests is mediated by numerical assessment strategies in black howler and tufted capuchin monkeys

Abstract: One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'Solving the puzzle of collective action through inter-individual differences: evidence from primates and humans'.

Cited by 34 publications

References 83 publications

Solving the puzzle of collective action through inter-individual differences

Solving the puzzle of collective action through inter-individual differences

An Evolutionary View on Conflict Escalation in Team Sports Competitions

Against all odds: Numerical assessment by tufted capuchin monkeys

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