Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
FSBSI «Scientific Research Institute of Medical Primatology», Sochi
Pachuliya I.G.: e-mail: irma-1983@mail.ru; Chalyan V.G.: e-mail: vg_chalyan@mail.ru; Meishvili N.G.: e-mail: natela_prim@list.ru.
Recently the interest to study the social structure and social behavior of hamadryas baboons has been inevitably increasing in the course of investigations of human evolutionary processes as a whole. A lot of material on the behavior of these animals has been collected. Particularly, the works on social structure and different aspects of social behavior of hamadryas baboons are well enough covered in Russian and foreign press. Studies on spatial structure of hamadryas baboons are rare. In total, the independent study of special structure of hamadryas baboons has not been carried out previously. The aim of investigation was determination of spatial relations between the dominant male-the leader of the harem, and the females, as well as of interindividual distance between the males of the group. The subject of investigation was hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas). The group under the investigation was housed in a standard corral with an area of 600 m2 in the monkey colony of Institute of Medical Primatology. The group was identified as a «band», and included 7 one-male units and harems combined together with other males (bachelors and old males) into two clans. Study of spatial structure of hamadryas baboon groups was performed using a standard method of registration of interindividual distance. The method included simultaneous registration of the distance between two individuals with 15-second fixed intervals. The spatial structure of the group of hamadryas baboon males was evaluated by the distance between the focal individual and the other male of the group including: the distance between the males – leaders of harems; the distance between the males – leaders of the harems and the males having no their own harem; the distance between the males having no harems. Statistic analysis of the material was made using the non-parametric criteria. The results showed that during the whole observational period the females most often were staying within two meters from the males – leaders of the harem. So, a two-meter radial zone from a harem leader male can be considered as a core zone of a mobile territory of each one-male unit. It must be noted that spatial position of females in harems is not directly connected with the females’ rank. The analysis of the distance between the males of different pairs showed that the males of different age and different status in the harem were mostly staying in a distance of 5 meters and more from each other. Thus, a distance of 4 meters can be considered as a minimum allowable one between the mature hamadryas baboon males which they mostly actively keep. According to our observations 9 males out of 12 could keep a distance of different kind between each other (from close to very far). Such relations suggest a possibility of periodic convergence of males and staying in less than critical distance of 4 meters, as well as in a distance of 9 meters (in most of cases). The observations showed that taking into account the spatial characteristics all the one-male groups of hamadryas baboons are identical with centering the females around the spatial center – a leader male. A core point of mobile territory of each one-male group is a radial zone of 2 m, and the females were staying in this area for most part of their time. Neither the age of the females, nor their rank influenced directly on a spatial structure in their harems. Comparison of the distance between the males of different age and social categories showed that for all males a radial zone of 4 meters is undesirable for visiting by other males of any age and social category. Thus the spatial relations of hamadryas baboons in captive conditions are strictly regulated, and it is a very important component for their peaceful coexistence and group integrity.
anthropology, primatology, nonhuman primate social behavior, hamadryas baboons, social structure and spatial relations of hamadryas baboons
Цит.: Pachuliya I.G., Chalyan V.G., Meishvili N.G. Spatial structure of the group of hamadryas baboons in colony conditions // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2016; 1/2016; с. 102-108
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