Skip to main content
Log in

Matrilineal Cohesion and Social Networks in Macaca fuscata

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In a provisioned troop of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in Arashiyama, Japan, greater adherence to Kawamura's rules of matrilineal rank inheritance and youngest ascendancy occurred among high-ranking females versus low-ranking females. Accordingly, high-ranking females formed more clustered hierarchies and low-ranking females had more dispersed hierarchies. A proximate explanation for this finding may be related to differences in how females maintain their social networks. To determine whether the clustering in the hierarchy was reflected in patterns of social cohesiveness, I compared network sizes of coalition and grooming partners for females in each third of the hierarchy. I calculated the proportion of available partners that were coalition and grooming partners within each category of relatedness (0.5 ≥ r ≤ 0.004 and r = 0). High-ranking females formed coalitions with a large proportion of their close relatives and a small proportion of their distant relatives; middle-ranking females supported an intermediate proportion of their close relatives and a small proportion of their distant relatives; and, low-ranking females formed coalitions with very few available close and distant relatives. High-ranking females groomed nearly all available close relatives and an intermediate proportion of distant relatives, whilst middle- and low-ranking females groomed a large proportion of available close relatives and a very small proportion of distant relatives. Thus, levels of clustering within the hierarchy appeared to reflect levels of social cohesion, in terms of grooming and coalition formation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altmann, J. (1974). Observational study of behaviour: Sampling methods.Behaviour 49: 227-265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angst, W. (1975). Basic data and concepts on the social organisation of Macaca fascicularis. Prim. Behav. 4: 325-388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, C. (1980). Early agonistic experience and rank acquisition among free-ranging infant rhesus monkeys. Int. J. Primatol. 1: 153-170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, C. (1982). Ontogeny of social relationships with group companions among free-ranging infant rhesus monkeys. I: Social networks and differentiation. Anim. Behav. 30: 149-162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, C. (1983). Matriline differences and infant development. In Hinde, R. A. (Ed.), Primate Social Relationships, an Integrated Approach, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 132-134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, I. S. (1969). Stability of the status hierarchy in a pigtail monkey group (Macaca nemestrina). Anim. Behav. 17: 452-458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaffin, C., Friedlen, K., and de Waal, F. B. M. (1995). Dominance style of Japanese macaques compared with rhesus and stumptail macaques. Am. J. Primatol. 35: 103-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapais, B. (1988). Experimental matrilineal inheritance of rank in female Japanese macaques. Anim. Behav. 36: 1025-1037.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapais, B. (1992). The role of alliances in social inheritance of rank among female primates. In Harcourt, A. H., and de Waal, F. B. M. (Eds.), Coalitions & Alliances in Humans and Other Animals, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 29-59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapais, B., and Gauthier, C. (1993). Early agonistic experience and the onset of matrilineal rank acquisition in Japanese macaques. In Pereira, M. E., and Fairbanks, L.A. (Eds.), Juvenile Primates: Life History, Development & Behavior, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 246-258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapais, B., Girard, M., and Primi, G. (1991). Non-kin alliances and the stability of matrilineal dominance relations in Japanese macaques. Anim. Behav. 41: 481-491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapais, B., and St. Pierre, C. G. (1997). Kinship binds are not necessary for maintaining matrilineal rank in captive Japanese macaques. Int. J. Primatol. 18(3): 375-385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheney, D. L., and Seyfarth, R. M. (1990). How Monkeys See the World: Inside the Mind of Another Species. university of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheney, D. L. (1983). Extra-familial alliances among vervet monkeys, In Hinde, R. A. (Ed.), Primate Social Relationships: An Integrated Approach, Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, pp. 278-286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheney, D. L. (1977). The acquisition of rank and the development of reciprocal alliances among free-ranging immature baboons. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 2: 303-318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Datta, S. (1983a). Relative power and the acquisition of rank. In Hinde, R. A. (Ed.), Primate Social Relationships, an Integrated Approach, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 93-103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Datta, S. (1983b). Relative power and the maintenance of dominance. In Hinde, R. A. (Ed.), Primate Social Relationships, an Integrated Approach, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 103-112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Datta, S. (1983c). Patterns of agonistic interference. In Hinde, R. A. (Ed.), Primate Social Relationships, an Integrated Approach, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 289-297.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vries, H. (1995). An improved test of linearity in dominance hierarchies containing unknown or tied relationships. Anim. Behav. 50: 1375-1389.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Waal, F. B. M. (1986). Conflict resolution in monkeys and apes. In Benirschke, K. (Ed.), Primates: The Road to Self-Sustaining Populations, Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 341-350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drickamer, L. C. (1974a). A ten year summary of reproductive data for free-ranging Macaca mulatta. Folia Primatol. 21: 61-80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drickamer, L. C. (1974b). Social rank, observability, and sexual behaviour of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). J. Repro. Fert. 37: 117-120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estrada, A., Estrada, R., and Ervin, F. (1977). Establishment of a free-ranging colony of stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides): Social relations I. Primates 18: 647-676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furuichi, T. (1983). Interindividual distance and the influence of dominance on feeding in a natural Japanese macaque troop. Primates 24: 445-455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, D. A., and Okayasu, N. (1995). Absence of ‘youngest ascendancy’ in the dominance relations of sisters in wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui). Behaviour 132: 367-379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horrocks, J., and Hunte, W. (1983). Maternal rank and offspring rank in vervet monkeys: An appraisal of the mechanisms of rank acquisition. Anim. Behav. 31: 772-782.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunte, W., and Horrocks, J. (1987). Kin and non-kin interventions in the aggressive disputes of vervet monkeys. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 20: 257-263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Itoigawa, N., Tanaka, T., Ukai, N., Fujii, H., Kurokawa, T., Koyama, T., Ando, A., Watanabe, Y., and Imakawa, S. (1992). Demography and reproductive parameters of a free-ranging group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) at Katsuyama. Primates 33(1): 49-68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawai, M. (1958). On the system of social ranks in a natural troop of Japanese monkeys. Primates 1: 148-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura, S. (1958). Matriarchal social ranks in the Minoo-B troop: A study of the rank system of Japanese monkeys.Primates 1: 148-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, N. (1967). On dominance rank and kinship of a wild Japanese monkey troop in Arashiyama. Primates 8: 189-216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, N. (1970). Changes in dominance rank and division of a wild Japanese monkey troop at Arashiyama. Primates 11: 335-390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutsukake, N. (2000). Matrilineal rank inheritance varies with absolute rank in Japanese macaques. Primates 41(3): 321-335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori, A., Watanabe, K., and Yamaguchi, N. (1989). Longitudinal changes of dominance rank among females of the Koshima group of Japanese monkeys. Primates 30: 147-173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamichi, M., Itoigawa, N., Imakawa, S., and Machida, S. (1995). Dominance relations among adult females in a free-ranging group of Japanese monkeys at Katsuyama. Am. J. Primatol. 37: 241-251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Netto, W. J., and van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M. (1986). Conflict interference and the development of dominance relationships in immature Macaca fascicularis. In Else, J. G., and Lee, P. C. (Eds.), Primate Ontogeny, Cognition and Social Behaviour, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 291-300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, A., and Kuester, J. (1987). Dominance, kinship and reproductive value in female Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) at Affenburg Salem. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 21: 323-331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, M. E. (1989). Agonistic interactions of juvenile savanna baboons. II: Agonistic support and rank acquisition. Ethology 79: 195-217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sade, D. S. (1967). Determinants of dominance in a group of free-ranging rhesus monkeys. In Altmann, S. A. (Ed.), Social Communication in Primates, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 94-114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sade, D. S., Cushing, K., Cushing, P., Dunale, J., Figueroa, A., Kaplan, J. R., Lauer, C., Rhodes, D., and Schneider, J. (1976). Population dynamics in relation to social structure on Cayo Santiago. Yearbook Phys. Anthrop. 20: 253-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silk, J. B., Samuels, A., and Rodman, P. (1981). Hierarchical organization of female Macaca radiata in captivity. Primates 22: 84-95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silk, J. B., Seyfarth, R. M., and Cheney, D. L. (1999). The structure of social relationships among female savanna baboons in Moremi reserve, Botswana. Behaviour 136(6): 679-703.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, M., D'Souza, L., and Singh, M. (1992). Hierarchy, kinship and social interaction among Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata). J. BioSci. 17(1): 15-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterck, E. H. M., Watts, D. P., and van Schaik, C. P. (1997). The evolution of female social relationships in nonhuman primates. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 41: 291-309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahata, Y. (1991). Diachronic changes in the dominance relations of adult female Japanese monkeys in the Arashiyama B Group. In Fedigan, L. M., and Asquith, P. J. (Eds.), The Monkeys of Arashiyama, SUNY Press, New York, pp. 123-139.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Koyama, N.F. Matrilineal Cohesion and Social Networks in Macaca fuscata . International Journal of Primatology 24, 797–811 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024676705433

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024676705433

Navigation