Articles | Volume 4, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/pb-4-1-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/pb-4-1-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 Jan 2017
Research article |
| 26 Jan 2017
Age-dependent change of coalitionary strategy in male Barbary macaques
Eva-Maria Rathke
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Behavioral Ecology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Andreas Berghänel
Department of Behavioral Ecology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, MSC01-1040, Anthropology, 1, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Annie Bissonnette
Department of Behavioral Ecology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Julia Ostner
Department of Behavioral Ecology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Primate Social Evolution Group, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Oliver Schülke
Department of Behavioral Ecology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Primate Social Evolution Group, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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We investigated collective movements in a group of wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in the Middle Atlas, Morocco. While pauses of the first departing individual enhanced following behavior, the opposite was found for back glancing. To successfully initiate a collective movement, it seemed to be sufficient for a socially integrated group member to take action when other group members signal their willingness prior to departure and to occasionally wait for the group while moving.
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Short summary
Coalitions are a specific case of cooperative competition and have been explained by various factors like partner availability, distribution of fighting ability, or cost of coordination. We investigated if age is an important factor influencing coalition formation and, specifically, if males switch from a solo strategy to a cooperative one after reaching post-prime age. We found that older males formed more coalitions than younger ones, stressing the importance of age in cooperative competition.
Coalitions are a specific case of cooperative competition and have been explained by various...
