Short-term group fission processes in macaques: a social networking approach

Authored by C. Sueur, O. Petit, J. L. Deneubourg

Date Published: 2010-04-15

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.039016

Sponsors: European Doctoral College of Strasbourg Universities French Research Ministry (EGIDE) French Foreign Ministry Wallonia-Brussels International

Platforms: NetLogo

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Living in groups necessarily involves a certain amount of within-group competition for food. Group members may have different motivations, implying the reaching of a consensus to stay cohesive. In some cases individuals fail to reach a common decision and the group splits; this can be temporary, as seen in fission-fusion dynamics, or even irreversible. Most studies on fission-fusion dynamics published to date have focused on the influence of environmental constraints on sub-grouping patterns, but little is known about how social relationships affect individual choices for sub-groups. In this study, we used an agent-based model to understand the mechanisms underlying group fission in two semi-free-ranging groups of macaques: one group of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) and one of rhesus macaques (M. mulatta). The results showed that sub-grouping patterns were mainly influenced by affiliative relationships. Moreover, the species-specific social style appeared to affect the probability of choosing a particular sub-group. In the tolerant Tonkean macaques, mechanisms underlying sub-grouping patterns resembled anonymous mimetism, while in the nepotistic rhesus macaques, kinship influenced the mechanisms underlying group fissions. As previous studies have shown, fission-fusion society may be a way to avoid social conflicts induced either by food or by social competition.

Tags

Agent-based model Decision Making Consensus kinship Affiliation sub-group