On the neglected behavioural variation among neighbouring primate groups

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State: Public
Version: Author's accepted manuscript
License: All rights reserved
Serval ID
serval:BIB_6CDEE9F30E6C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
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Publications
Institution
Title
On the neglected behavioural variation among neighbouring primate groups
Journal
Ethology
Author(s)
van de Waal E.
ISSN
1439-0310
ISSN-L
0179-1613
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2018
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
124
Number
12
Pages
845-854
Language
english
Abstract
Behavioural variation in primates has been well studied at the level of individuals by behavioural ecologists, and more recently at a population level by cultural biologists. Behavioural differences between groups of the same population, however, have rarely been considered. Here, I review intergroup variation in universally occurring behaviours between up to six neighbouring groups of vervet monkeys. Group differences have been found in several domains including foraging, conflicts, grooming and proximity. An exclusively ecological explanation for the observed variation appears implausible, as these monkey groups have overlapping home ranges, and their ecology is therefore very similar. The presence of a genetic bias underlying the observed group differences is also implausible, as males disperse between groups at sexual maturity and multiple times within their lives creating a continuous gene flow between the six groups. This leaves socially learned group-level traditions as the most plausible explanation. I discuss ways in which this working conclusion can be tested. The likely presence of group-level traditions in close proximity, well known in humans, has rarely been considered for non-human primates and adds an important dimension to research on conformity in non-human cultures.
Keywords
behavioural variation, neighbouring primate groups, social learning, traditions, universal behaviours, vervet monkeys
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Create date
29/11/2018 10:29
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:26
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