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Rank acquisition in rhesus macaque yearlings following permanent maternal separation: The importance of the social and physical environment
Author(s) -
Wooddell Lauren J.,
Kaburu Stefano S.K.,
Murphy Ashley M.,
Suomi Stephen J.,
Dettmer Amanda M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21555
Subject(s) - psychology , macaque , rank (graph theory) , dominance (genetics) , dominance hierarchy , relocation , developmental psychology , rhesus macaque , social hierarchy , aggression , biology , social psychology , mathematics , combinatorics , neuroscience , biochemistry , computer science , immunology , gene , programming language
Rank acquisition is a developmental milestone for young primates, but the processes by which primate yearlings attain social rank in the absence of the mother remain unclear. We studied 18 maternally reared yearling rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) that differed in their social and physical rearing environments. We found that early social experience and maternal rank, but not individual traits (weight, sex, age), predicted dominance acquisition in the new peer‐only social group. Yearlings also used coalitions to reinforce the hierarchy, and social affiliation (play and grooming) was likely a product, rather than a determinant, of rank acquisition. Following relocation to a familiar environment, significant rank changes occurred indicating that familiarity with a physical environment was salient in rank acquisition. Our results add to the growing body of literature emphasizing the role of the social and physical environment on behavioral development, namely social asymmetries among peers.