Social, ecological, and endocrine influences on female relationships in blue monkeys (cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) / Karen Ann Pazol.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Pazol, Karen Ann.

Contributor:

Cheney, Dorothy L., advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Anthropology.

Anthropology--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Anthropology.

Anthropology--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

xi, 236 p : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm

Production:

2001.

Summary:

In this dissertation I provide some of the most detailed data available for any species of African forest guenon, the blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni). Focal observations were conducted on 32 adult females from two social groups in the Kakamega Forest, western Kenya. Fecal samples were also obtained to provide a non-invasive measure of reproductive physiology through an evaluation of their ovarian hormone content.

Intragroup contest competition was found to play a remarkably small role in structuring female relationships. Agonism rates were extremely low, and although it was possible to detect near-linear dominance hierarchies, rank had little influence on resource acquisition. Data from this study tentatively suggest that blue monkeys avoid contest competition by using alternative mechanisms to partition limiting resources.

Female were also found to spend an extremely small proportion of their time with the resident male of their group. This pattern sharply contrasts that which has been documented for baboons and macaques in which females form strong heterosexual relationships. In the absence of clear interspecific differences in the ecological costs and benefits of associating with males, it is suggested that the one-male structure of blue monkey groups precludes the possibility for males to provide females with protection from harassment and infanticide committed by non-affiliated males.

Fecal samples reliably indicated when females were cycling and could be used to narrow the window of potential conception dates. The hormone profiles obtained tentatively suggest that females most often conceive on their first ovulation following periods of amenorrhea, although a rise in estrogen prior to this time appears to promote an early onset of sexual behavior.

Consistent with the paternity confusion hypothesis, females often mated when conception was unlikely or impossible. However, this tendency was not necessarily strengthened by the presence of unfamiliar males. Potentially, females have evolved hormonal mechanisms to promote non-conceptive sexual behavior which cannot be facultatively expressed. Alternative hypotheses are also discussed to explain the consistency of female mating patterns in the presence and absence of unfamiliar males.

Notes:

Supervisor: Dorothy L. Cheney.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Anthropology) -- University of Pennsylvania, 2001.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 3031708.

OCLC:

244971541