I studied free-ranging vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in South Africa using focal
animal sampling to test current theories of reproduction and maternal investment.
Mothers cope with the energetic costs of lactation by feeding more than non-lactating
females and targeting higher nutrient quality items as their infant ages. The dynamic
nature of mother-infant interactions is highlighted, with infants spending less time in
contact while the mother is moving and foraging. Other troop members “allomother” the
infant primarily in the infant’s first couple of months. The length of investment is
explored, with greater length of interbirth interval in low nutrient quality environments,
larger troop sizes and higher survival rates. Maternal dominance rank and infant sex
significantly influenced time in ventral contact, with low-ranking daughters spending
more time in contact than high-ranking daughters. The findings from this thesis highlight
the complex interaction of ecological and social conditions on maternal investment. / xiv, 182 leaves ; 29 cm
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/3400 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Sashaw, Jessica Joan Hayden |
| Contributors | Barrett, Louise, Henzi, Peter |
| Publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, c2012, 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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