Macaques (Macaca) are the most geographically widespread and behaviourally diverse primate genus, and although macaque species share the same basic social structure, they display broad interspecific variation in patterns of social behaviour. Based on these patterns, macaque species have been arranged along a 4-grade scale for social style. At one end of the scale, there are grade 1 species (e.g., Japanese macaques) that have highly hierarchical and despotic social systems, and at the other end, grade 4 species (e.g., Tonkean macaques), that have more relaxed and egalitarian social systems. In this study, the play fighting of juvenile Tonkean and Japanese macaques was compared to determine whether or not play behaviour co-varies in a manner similar to that of adult social behaviour. As predicted, Tonkean macaques exhibit a relatively cooperative style of play fighting, whereas Japanese macaques exhibit a relatively competitive style of play fighting. / x, 174 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm. --

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are a specialized group of circulating dendritic cells that respond to viral nucleic acids with Type I IFN production as well as other cytokine and chemokines. These pDC responses lead to the production of antiviral molecules and recruitment of defense cells. During zoonotic B virus infection, a simplex virus of the subfamily Alphaherpesviridae, our lab has observed that infected individuals who succumb to infection have little-to-no-antibody or cell-mediated defenses. To identify whether this was partly due to failure of pDCs to produce antiviral interferon responses or produce chemokine and cytokines, we tested the hypothesis that B virus modulates the IFN response during zoonotic infection by blocking pDC activation and subsequent IFN signaling pathways to circumvent host defenses, while these pathways remain intact in the macaque hosts. We showed that human pDCs respond to B virus through the production of IFN-a, IL-1a, IL-6, TNF-a, MIP-1a/b and IP-10. Human pDCs co-cultured with B virus infected fibroblasts produced fewer cytokines and at lower levels. The macaque response to B virus was measured using PBMCs, as there are no specific reagents available to enrich macaque pDCs. Human and macaque PBMCs produced IFN-a when exposed directly to B virus infected lysates. Co-cultures of PBMCs with B virus infected fibroblasts from both hosts failed to produce any significant amounts of IFN-a. To quantify the antiviral effects of PBMC induced IFN-a, we measured B virus titers after exposure to supernatants from B virus exposed PBMCs, PBMC co-cultures with infected fibroblasts and exogenous recombinant Type I IFN. Our data further suggest that B virus resistance was not due to virus specific blockade of the Type I IFN signaling pathway because STAT-1 was activated in infected fibroblasts when treated with Type I IFNs. These data demonstrate for the first time that B virus replication is unimpeded in the presence of any source of IFN-a in either host cell type. In conclusion, this dissertation shows that the IFN-a production by both hosts in response to B virus is similar and that IFN-a treatment of B virus infected fibroblasts did not reduce B virus replication.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin -- Madison, 1954. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-46).

Personality, that is intra-individual consistency and inter-individual variation in behaviour, is widespread throughout the animal kingdom. This challenges traditional evolutionary assumptions that selection should favour behavioural flexibility, and that variation in behavioural strategies reflects stochastic variation around a single optimal behavioural strategy. Adaptive models to explain personality within the framework of evolutionary and behavioural ecology exist, and are typically empirically explored by identifying proximate associations to, and the functional consequences of, personality expression. To date, such studies have typically quantified a narrow range of personality traits within a species, and focused on captive populations or species with relatively limited behavioural or social repertoires. In this thesis, personality is studied in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). Quantification of personality structure in the species was conducted using a multi-method approach, and subsequently, it was examined whether physiological stress response (a proximate association) was related to personality expression, and whether personality expression affected social (functional) outcomes for individuals. Seven personality constructs were identified in Barbary macaques. Three personality constructs were related to physiological stress responses (Excitability, Tactility and Exploration), with the relationship between stress and personality expression dependent on sex, and in some cases rank or age. Two personality constructs (Excitability and Exploration) were associated with measures of social integration. Subjects generally socially assorted themselves according to personality, tending to be in proximity to individuals with a similar personality to themselves. This study contributes methodologically by demonstrating the plausibility of multi-method approaches to measuring personality in wild primates, and empirically, by generating evidence supporting adaptive models for the evolution of personality, namely that intra-individual consistency in behaviour may be mediated by physiology and that inter-individual variation in behaviour has functional benefits in the formation of social relationships and social structures.

This study investigates the influence of dominance, kinship and relationship quality on grooming distribution in female Barbary macaques. Data were collected in free-ranging group of Barbary macaques during two four-month periods. The results demonstrate that all tested factors are important for females choice of grooming partners in given group. Moreover, the relative importance of each variable was evaluated. This approach enables to establish which factor plays the most important role in grooming distribution among female Barbary macaques. The relationship quality had the strongest effect on distribution of grooming interactions among females. In other words females groomed more often and for longer time social partners with whom they have better relationship.

No description available.

Previous studies completed with humans have revealed insight into the effects of anxiety on attention tasks such the dot-probe task, but there is little information about such effects on non-human primates. This study aimed to assess whether anxiety or anxious behaviors would impact rhesus macaque performance on a three stimuli paradigm similar to the dot-probe task. Utilizing images of conspecifics (strong threat, mild threat, and neutral), eight monkeys were video recorded completing a task that required them to slide two doors, which held these images, to the side to obtain a treat. We hypothesized that behavioral phenotype (high or low anxiety) would affect attention on this modified dot-probe task. Additionally, we predicted that time spent looking at mildly threatening stimuli would be positively correlated with high levels of anxious behaviors (e.g., scratching, yawning, pacing, self-biting) and cortisol concentrations over a four month period. We also predicted that a higher percentage of the mildly threating stimuli as a first choice would be positively correlated with high levels of anxious behaviors and cortisol concentrations. However, anxious behaviors and cortisol concentrations did not affect performance on this task. Interestingly, a sex difference was found for the mild threat stimuli, with females taking significantly more time to complete the task when presented with the mild stimuli (p = 0.01), and also looking at the mild stimuli longer than males (p = 0.03). These data suggest that males and females interpret ambiguous facial expressions differently, possibly indicating the significance of attention in female dominance hierarchies in macaque social groups.

Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists are effective agents for pain management, but are also limited by a number of undesirable effects. One approach to enhance the therapeutic effects and minimize the undesirable effects of MOR agonists may be to combine MOR agonists with an adjunct targeting a different receptor system. This targeted medical approach, known as “combination therapy”, aims to augment the desired effects of the MOR agonist (i.e. antinociception) and/or diminish the undesirable deleterious side effects of the MOR agonist. This dissertation investigated the utility of this approach in an assay of thermal nociception and schedule-controlled responding in male rhesus monkeys with three aims. One aim determined the utility of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists to selectively enhance MOR agonist antinociception. A second identified the pharmacological determinants of antinociceptive interactions between a nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor agonist and MOR agonists. A third aim investigated the potential for fixed-proportion mixtures of a competitive MOR antagonist and MOR agonist to manipulate antinociceptive efficacy. Experimental results did not support the utility of NMDA antagonists as adjuncts to selectively enhance MOR agonist antinociception. Furthermore, the antinociceptive interactions between a NOP agonist and MOR agonists were modest and occurred under a narrow range of conditions. Finally, fixed proportion MOR antagonist-agonist mixtures were effective in manipulating antinociceptive in vivo efficacy. In conclusion, this dissertation does not provide strong empirical evidence that a combination therapy approach will result in clinically effective and selective enhancement of MOR agonist analgesia. The dissertation concludes with proposed strategies and novel preclinical methods to enhance preclinical-to-clinical translation of effective candidate analgesics.

Direct fitness is measured as the number of surviving offspring. Thus adult males may try to produce as many offspring as possible or to increase the survival of their offspring. Recent findings have shown the many potential benefits of fathers’ presence and support on infants’ development and survival. However, little is known about the influence of socio-ecological factors on male-infant interactions. The main aim of this thesis was therefore to investigate male-infant interactions in wild crested macaques (Macaca nigra). In particular, we aimed to examine the affiliative and agonistic interactions taking place in this species, along with the factors influencing these interactions and offspring survival. Data collection for this thesis took place in the Tangkoko-Duasudara Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia, on 3 wild groups of crested macaques. For the first study, data were collected on migrations, births, disappearances, and encounters between groups over 5 years. We analyzed the influence of socio-ecological factors (e.g. rainfall, alpha-male position takeover, and male hierarchy stability) on pre- and post-natal loss. The results showed that high infant mortality was mainly associated to male alpha-position takeover, which suggests that infanticide may indeed occur in this species. In addition, we found that female within-group competition for food sources and between-group resource defense influenced fetal and infant loss. Based on these findings, we were interested to see whether fathers protected their own offspring against male attacks. Thus, in the second study, we investigated the social determinants and characteristics of male-infant affiliations. Our results indicate that adult males and infants form preferential association, and that infants initiate the majority of male-infant affiliations. Infants initiated affiliations mainly towards a high ranking male or a male in a close relationship with their mother. In addition, infants affiliated mainly with adult males in the absence of their mother, while males affiliated mostly with infants when the infants‘ mother was present in proximity. Furthermore, males initiated affiliations towards an infant when they held a high rank or when they had a strong bond with the infant‘s mother. Interestingly, paternity did not affect male-infant affiliations. In conclusion, these studies provide insights in the specifics of both infant survival strategies and male reproductive strategies. In addition, we show that infants are active agents in establishing and maintaining preferential relationships with males. This thesis, thus, confirm that male-infant interactions, although rare, have a strong influence both on males’ and infants’ direct fitness.:Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 5 List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 7 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ 8 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Zusammenfassung .................................................................................................................. 13 1 General Introduction .......................................................................................................... 17 1.1 Infants and adult males in mammals ...................................................................... 18 1.2 Primate males’ use and abuse of infants ................................................................ 19 1.3 Male care and paternal care in primates ............................................................... 20 1.4 Crested macaques as study species ......................................................................... 21 1.5 Aims of this thesis ........................................................................................................... 23 2 Social and ecological factors influencing offspring survival in wild macaques ................................................................................................................................... 25 2.1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 26 2.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 26 2.3 Methods .............................................................................................................................. 29 2.4 Results ................................................................................................................................. 34 2.5 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 37 3 Mother-male bond, but not paternity, influences male-infant affiliation in wild crested macaques .......................................................................................................... 45 3.1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 46 3.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 46 3.3 Methods .............................................................................................................................. 50 3.4 Results ................................................................................................................................. 58 3.5 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 61 4 Thesis Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 71 Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 75 Supplementary figure and tables for Chapter 2 ......................................................... 76 Supplementary methods and tables for Chapter 3 ................................................... 79 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 83 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 99 Contributions of co-authors .............................................................................................. 101 Curriculum vitae .................................................................................................................... 105 Publications and conference contributions ................................................................. 107 Selbstständigkeitserklärung ............................................................................................. 109