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http://hdl.handle.net/11375/10362
Title: | Social Dominance in a Group of Captive Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx): An Analysis of Behaviour Indices |
Authors: | Holt, Nasha |
Advisor: | E., Emöke J. |
Department: | Anthropology |
Keywords: | Anthropology;Anthropology |
Publication Date: | Aug-1980 |
Abstract: | <p>Social dominance has been defined and measured in various ways in studies of non-human primate social organization. In this project, dominance is defined operationally as an inter-correlated cluster of behaviours, one of which is the ability to aggress on an individual without that individual responding with aggression. Behavioural observations are conducted on a captive group of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) in order to determine whether dominance relationships are present and to examine the validity of traditional measures of dominance. A cluster of inter-correlated behaviours is identified which indicates dominance and ranks the animals into a linear hierarchy. The primary significance of the dominance hierarchy lies in conferring predictability to certain limited types of behavioural interactions, including agonistic encounters, non-agonistic approach-retreat patterns, and non-agonistic presenting. Delineation of such clear-cut dominance hierarchies is rare in non-captive situations, and possible reasons for this difference are discussed. An improved methodological approach to the study of dominance is proposed as a basis for comparative analysis utilizing the dominance concept.</p> |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/10362 |
Identifier: | opendissertations/5410 6432 2103862 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Size | Format | |
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fulltext.pdf | 3.19 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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