This study explores the effect of changing ecological conditions on female social
organization among free-ranging vervet monkeys (Cholorocebus aethiops pygerythrus)
in the Klein Karoo, South Africa. Comparison was made between a previous study
conducted during a period of drought in 2009, and my own study conducted when
conditions were much wetter and hence, less ecologically stressful. In addition, animals
in the present study also experienced conditions of low demographic stress. Compared
to 2009, females displayed lower rates of competition and aggression, did not compete
for access to grooming partners, and did not preferentially groom those of high rank,
nor did they do so more frequently. Females did, however, preferentially associate
spatially with those they groomed most; a finding in contrast to the previous study.
Females did not groom those of adjacent ranks more frequently, nor was there any
relationship between rank difference and spatial association. In addition, there were
rank differences in vigilance were found between females, and vigilance costs overall
were affected by total group size. Overall, these findings support some aspects of the
socioecological model used to predict group structure in primates, but other aspects of
social organization remain puzzling, and may reflect larger overall group sizes in the
Samara population, which changes patterns of engagement between females in ways
not fully captured by current models. / xi, 122 leaves ; 29 cm
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/3454 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Matlock, Alena, University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science |
| Contributors | Barrett, Louise, Henzi, Peter |
| Publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, c2013, Arts and Science, Department of Psychology |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_CA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Relation | Thesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science) |
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