The presence of females induces elevated cortisol levels in an alpha male: Experimental evidence in chimpanzees

Abstract

Our study provides experimental evidence suggesting that the presence of females plays a significant role in the rank-related variation in the cortisol levels in male chimpanzees. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate the usefulness of salivary hormones for detecting short-term physiological changes in studies of socioendocrinology.

Quality of hematology and clinical chemistry results in laboratory and zoo nonhuman primates: Effects of the preanalytical phase. A review

“…In socially housed baboons, cortisol was increased after separation from the group or after aggressions and was increased when they were moved to crowded indoor cages from indoor‐outdoor enclosures 172,173 . It was higher in chimpanzee alpha‐males in the presence of females 174 . Stress also has effects on alpha‐amylase, as in Japanese macaques housed in individual cages and habituated to be sampled with rope swabs: alpha‐amylase mildly increased 3–5 min after an acute stressor and was back to baseline about 10 min after removal of the stressor 162 …”

“…172,173 It was higher in chimpanzee alpha-males in the presence of females. 174 Stress also has effects on alpha-amylase, as in Japanese macaques housed in individual cages and habituated to be sampled with rope swabs: alpha-amylase mildly increased 3-5 min after an acute stressor and was back to baseline about 10 min after removal of the stressor. 162…”