Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-23T09:32:59.727Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Pre-Feeding Agonism and Seasonality in Captive Groups of Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

S M Howell ,
M Matevia ,
J Fritz ,
L Nash  and
S Maki
S M Howell
Affiliation:
Primate Foundation of Arizona, PO Box 20027, Mesa, AZ 85277, USA
M Matevia
Affiliation:
Primate Foundation of Arizona, PO Box 20027, Mesa, AZ 85277, USA
J Fritz*
Affiliation:
Primate Foundation of Arizona, PO Box 20027, Mesa, AZ 85277, USA
L Nash
Affiliation:
Primate Foundation of Arizona, PO Box 20027, Mesa, AZ 85277, USA
S Maki
Affiliation:
Primate Foundation of Arizona, PO Box 20027, Mesa, AZ 85277, USA
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Captive chimpanzees fed at regular, predictable intervals are known to exhibit higher rates of aggression immediately prior to, and during feeding. Presumably, anticipation of food creates tensions leading to increased agonistic interactions prior to feeding. This study was conducted to determine if seasonal variabilities might contribute to pre-feeding agonism. A quantitative examination was made looking at events affected by seasonal (summer versus autumn) changes. Seasonal fruit diversity and the amount of available space during feeding bouts in socially housed, captive chimpanzees were tested for an effect on pre-feeding agonism. Groups were observed for a five-week period during both seasons. Each social group was observed five times per season for 30 minutes, beginning 30 minutes prior to the morning feeding. All occurrences of agonistic behaviours were recorded. Average frequencies of agonistic behaviours were calculated for each group and compared across season using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs test to determine the effect of seasonal fluctuations in fruit diversity. There were no significant differences in the number of agonistic behaviours exhibited during summer versus autumn seasons. A strong negative correlation was found for agonistic behaviours in both seasons: as space decreased, agonism increased in both summer and autumn. In addition, males scored significantly higher in the summer versus the autumn for submissive behaviours when space decreased. The provision of a variety of seasonal fruits did not result in increased pre-feeding agonism in captive chimpanzees. In fact, cage size had a greater effect on levels of agonism than did the provision of seasonal fruits.

Keywords

agonismanimal welfarechimpanzeesdietary diversityfeeding enrichmentsocial density
Type
Short Communication
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , May 1993 , pp. 153 - 163
Copyright
© 1993 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bygott, J D 1974 Agonistic behaviour and dominance in wild chimpanzees. PhD Thesis University of CambridgeGoogle Scholar
deWaal, F B M and Hockstra, J A 1980 Contexts and predictability of aggression in chimpanzees. Animal Behaviour 28: 929–937CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fritz, J 1989 Resocialization of captive chimpanzees: an amelioration procedure. American Journal of Primatology Supplement 1: 79–86Google Scholar
Fritz, P and Fritz, J 1979 Resocialization of captive chimpanzees: ten years of experience at the Primate Foundation of Arizona. Journal of Medical Primatology 8: 202–221CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ghiglieri, M P 1984 The Chimpanzees of Kibale Forest: A Field Study of Ecology and Social Structure. Columbia University Press: New YorkGoogle Scholar
Goodall J van Lawick 1965 Chimpanzees of the Gombe Stream Reserve. In DeVore, I (ed) Primate Behavior: Field Studies of Monkeys and Apes. Holt, Reinhart and Winston: New YorkGoogle Scholar
Goodall, J 1968 Behaviour of free-living chimpanzees of the Gombe Stream Reserve. Animal Behaviour Monographs 1: 161–311CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodall, J 1986 The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior. Belknap Press: Cambridge, MassachusettsGoogle Scholar
Halpcrin, S D 1979 Temporary association patterns in free ranging chimpanzees: an assessment of individual grouping preferences. In Hamburg D A and McCown E R (eds) The Great Apes Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company: Menlo ParkGoogle Scholar
Hladik, C M 1977 Chimpanzees of Gabon and chimpanzees of Gombe: some comparative data on the diet. In Clutton-Brock, T H (ed) Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding and Ranging Behavior in Lemurs, Monkeys and Apes. Academic Press: New YorkGoogle Scholar
Izawa, K and Itani, J 1966 Chimpanzees in Kasakati Basin, Tanganyika: (1) ecological study in the rainy season, 1963 - 1964. Kyoto University African Studies 1: 73–156Google Scholar
Jones, C and Sabatcr Pi, J 1971 Comparative ecology of Gorilla gorilla and Pan troglodytes in Rio Muni, West Africa. Bibliotheca Primatologica 13: 1–96Google Scholar
Martin, P and Batcson, P 1986 Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide. Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge: New YorkGoogle Scholar
McGrew, W C 1981 Social and cognitive capabilities of nonhuman primates: lessons from the wild to captivity. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems 2(3): 138–149Google Scholar
Nieuwenhuijsen, K and deWaal, F B M 1982 Effects of spatial crowding on social behavior in a captive chimpanzee colony. Zoo Biology 1: 5–28CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nishida, T 1970 Social behavior and relationship among wild chimpanzees of the Mahali Mountains. Primates 11: 47–87CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reynolds, V and Luscombe, G P 1969 Social Behavior of Chimpanzees in an Open Environment. 6571st Aeromedicai Research Laboratory, Aerospace Medical Division, United States Air ForceGoogle Scholar
Reynolds, V and Reynolds, F 1965 Chimpanzees of the Budongo Forest. In DeVore, I (ed) Primate Behavior: Field Studies of Monkeys and Apes. Holt, Reinhart and Winston: New YorkGoogle Scholar
Subcommittee on Conservation of Natural Populations 1981 In Techniques for the Study of Primate Population Ecology. National Academy Press: Washington DCGoogle Scholar
Uchara, S 1990 A preliminary report on age differences in plant-feeding behaviors among adult and adolescent males. In Nishida, T (ed) The Chimpanzees of the Mahali Mountains: Sexual and Life History Strategies. University of Tokyo Press: TokyoGoogle Scholar
Wilson, W L and Wilson, C C 1968 Aggressive interactions of captive chimpanzees living in a semi-free-ranging environment. Technical Report No. 68-9. Aeromedicai Research Laboratory, Holloman Air Force Base, New MexicoGoogle Scholar
Wrangham, R W 1977 Feeding behaviour of chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. In Clutton-Block, T H (ed) Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding and Ranging Behavior in Lemurs, Monkeys and Apes. Academic Press: New YorkGoogle Scholar