Low levels of aggression and evidence of male social affiliation in Pitheciines: Consequences for Social Organization

GARBER, PAUL A; KOWALEWSKI, M MARTIN

Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Titis, Sakis and Uacaris

Cambridge University Press

Lugar: Cambridge ; Año: 2013; p. 96 - 104

Traditional studies of primate sociality have focused on the roles of competition and aggression in structuring within-group social interactions. However, group living requires that individuals form predictable social relationships, exploit a common set of resources, and defend a common range, which is facilitated by the development of mutually beneficial social bonds.  In this chapter examine the set of factors that serve to promote cooperation and affiliation in male pitheciines. In taxa such as Chiropotes, Cacajao, and some species of Pithecia, stable groups may contain as many as 4 to 16 fully adult males.  Data on social interactions indicate that contest competition at feeding sites is low, and patterns of spatial affiliation and grooming among resident males indicates a high level of intrasexual tolerance.  We argue that in species characterized by a nondespotic social system in which all or most males obtain, at least some access to receptive females there are benefits to all male group members of collectively excluding extragroup males from obtaining access to fertile females. In this regard, cooperative behavior is one component of a male?s reproductive strategy that can promote group stability, increase the number of co-resident males, and possibly serve to attract a large number of adult female group members.