primate behavior

Question 1

why study non human primates?

Answer 1

to understand the interrelationships of
Subsistence
Defense
Reproduction
Environment
Social structure

Question 2

primate behavior trends

Answer 2

Group Composition
At least one female & offspring
Usually several individuals; from 6 to several hundred
Mother-Infant Bonds
Peer Group Interactions
Communication
Home Range
Affective Behaviors
Dominance

Question 3

one male multifemale

Answer 3

Single adult male, several adult females and their offspring
Only one male actively breeds
Usually females from the permanent nucleus of group
Most common social group

Question 4

multimale multifemale

Answer 4

Several adult males, several adult females, and their offspring
Many males reproduce
Dominance hierarchy
Matrilines

Question 5

monogaous pair

Answer 5

Mated pair and its young
Minimal sexual dimorphism
Territoriality
Least common social group

Question 6

polyandry

Answer 6

One female and two males
Seen only in NWM
Male participate in care of infants

Question 7

solitary

Answer 7

Individual forage for food alone

Question 8

mother infant bond

Answer 8

Key to proper social interaction & survival later in life
Learn strategy by observation & imitation
Long learning periods is an adaptive strategy

Question 9

peer group interactions

Answer 9

Play groups
Young primates of similar age associate for increasing periods to time
Learn adult behavior
Establish dominance hierarchy

Question 10

communication

Answer 10

Vocal & non-vocal signals
Vocal signals are discrete, directed signals
Non-vocal communication utilizes body, especially head and face
Fine muscle control of the face
Displays are elaborate combinations of behaviors

Question 11

affective behaviors

Answer 11

promote group cohesion

Question 12

mounting

Answer 12

Ritualized behavior
Higher ranking individuals mount hindquarters of subordinates
Expresses dominance
Not sex
Often sex individuals
Removed from reproductive context
Reinforce and clarify social roles

Question 13

grooming

Answer 13

Occurs in a variety of contexts
Mothers groom infants
Males groom sexually receptive female
Subordinates groom the dominant
Provide reassurance during tense situations
Restores peaceful relationships

Question 14

dominance

Answer 14

Impose degree of order
Aggression frequently used a means of increasing status
Measured by access to resources
Food
Mating partners
Not permanent and changes throughout life
Learned behavior

Question 15

home range

Answer 15

Specific geographic area
Generally know by females – “mental map”
Passed onto offspring; part of mother/infant bonding experience
May overlap, but generally spaced either regionally or temporally

Question 16

why study baboons

Answer 16

They’re easy to study
they live/forage on the ground
open savannah
They display strong social interactions
They are adapted to an environment similar to early humans