| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立屏東科技大學 === 野生動物保育研究所 === 97 === In most gregarious primate species, there is a complex and stable social relationship among groupmates in a social group. Kawamura (1985) reported that in nepotistic matrilineal societies adult females would follow the matrilineal rank inheritance rule (MRI), in terms of the acquisition of social dominance. The MRI rule suggests that females exhibit maternal rank inheritance, maternal dominance, and youngest ascendancy among sisters. Since Taiwanese macaques (Macaca cyclopis) live in matrilineal societies which display clear social dominance hierarchies, I hypothesized that kingship would affect the acquisition of a female’s social ranking. Besides, high-ranking non-kin adult females may also play an important role in social rank acquisition and maintenance in females. The aim of this study is to understand how mother and high-ranked non-kin adult females affect the acquisition and maintenance of social dominance in females, by examining their pattern of social interactions with the female. Focal animal sampling was conducted on five pairs of sisters in the A1 group at Fu-shan Experimental Forest, to collect data on their social interactions. I also conducted behavior sampling to collect information on allogrooming, agonistic interactions, and formation of alliance.
Sisters with mothers living in the group followed the MRI rules completely, however, sisters without mothers only “inherited” their mothers’ rank, and younger sisters did not outrank older sisters. Younger sisters interacted socially with mothers more frequently. They allogroomed with mothers more frequently and stayed in proximity with mothers. Mothers intervened and supported younger sisters in the agonistic interactions involving sisters. The high-ranked non-kin females also formed ailliances with younger sisters. Among sister pairs, there was no consistent effect of social dominance and age of sisters on the frequencies of allogrooming with the high-ranked non-kin females. However, younger sisters were grooming provider in those allogrooming events. In conclusion, mothers and high-ranked non-kin adult females played an important role in the acquisition of social ranks in female Taiwanese macaques. Females maintained their social dominance through affiliative interactions, such as providing grooming, with mother and high-ranked non-kin females.
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