Variation in Patterns of Allocare In Captive Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas): The Potential Effects of Environment and Kinship in the Development of Novel Behavior

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Carter, A. (2016). Variation in Patterns of Allocare In Captive Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas): The Potential Effects of Environment and Kinship in the Development of Novel Behavior. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The goal of the this research was to examine the social dynamics among extended matrilines of Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) housed at the North Carolina Zoo (NCZ) in Asheboro, North Carolina, including the putative existence of allocare, defined as care provided to an infant by a conspecific other than the mother. This behavior does not typically occur in wild populations in which females disperse from their natal groups. Previous research at the NC Zoo has suggested the presence of allocare behaviors in this population (Gastil, 2014). I tested the hypothesis that allocare is strongly dependent upon the existence of extended female kin-groups in captivity. I predicted that allocare would occur in extended kin groups of mother-infant pairs and be absent in extended non-kin groups of mother-infant pairs. My hypothesis was weakly supported. Tinka was observed receiving allocare more frequently than the other focal subjects, and an affect of matriline was observed on the frequency of approach and agonistic behaviors as well.

Details
Author

Carter, Amanda

Title

Variation in Patterns of Allocare In Captive Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas): The Potential Effects of Environment and Kinship in the Development of Novel Behavior

Physical Description

1 online resource (71 pages) : PDF

Date

2016

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The goal of the this research was to examine the social dynamics among extended matrilines of Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) housed at the North Carolina Zoo (NCZ) in Asheboro, North Carolina, including the putative existence of allocare, defined as care provided to an infant by a conspecific other than the mother. This behavior does not typically occur in wild populations in which females disperse from their natal groups. Previous research at the NC Zoo has suggested the presence of allocare behaviors in this population (Gastil, 2014). I tested the hypothesis that allocare is strongly dependent upon the existence of extended female kin-groups in captivity. I predicted that allocare would occur in extended kin groups of mother-infant pairs and be absent in extended non-kin groups of mother-infant pairs. My hypothesis was weakly supported. Tinka was observed receiving allocare more frequently than the other focal subjects, and an affect of matriline was observed on the frequency of approach and agonistic behaviors as well.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Biology
Physical anthropology
Zoology

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Allocare
Biological Anthropology
Primate Behavior
Primatology

Subject Area

Anthropology

Advisor(s)

Brockman, Diane

Committee Members

Reitzel, Adam
Peterson, Nichole

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Carter_uncc_0694N_11172

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1622