Social monitoring reinforces social dominance relationships in brown Capuchin monkeys (cebus apella) /

Abstract

The visual system provides an important means of communication for many nonhuman primate species, through which primates both convey and perceive information. This system may be particularly adept at communicating information related to social dominance relationships. To test this concept, the relationship between social monitoring and social dominance status in a captive group of brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) was examined. We tested the hypothesis that differential social monitoring, or visual attention, is a mechanism by which brown capuchin monkeys maintain social organization. Dominance status was determined based on the directionality of aggressive behaviors, and social monitoring was quantified using focal animal sampling. The results of the aggressive behavior analysis revealed that the study group could be organized into three dominance tiers comprised of both males and females. Individuals in the dominant tier received significantly more social looks than individuals in both the middle tier and the bottom tier. Subordinate individuals engaged in the most social monitoring and also received the majority of the aggressive behaviors. Conversely, individuals that received the most looks directed the largest number of aggressive behaviors at others. The results indicate that social monitoring behavior is related to social dominance relationships, and that individuals employ social monitoring for within-group vigilance. The results suggest that social monitoring is an important mechanism by which social organization is maintained.