WANG Xi, LI Jin-hua, XIA Dong-po, CHEN Ran, ZHU Yong, ZHANG Min, WANG Su. 2009: Comparisons on Reproductive and Aggressive Behaviors in Male Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) of Two Different Operational Sex Ratio Troops at Huangshan, China. Zoological Research, 30(1): 83-89. DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2009.01083
Citation: WANG Xi, LI Jin-hua, XIA Dong-po, CHEN Ran, ZHU Yong, ZHANG Min, WANG Su. 2009: Comparisons on Reproductive and Aggressive Behaviors in Male Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) of Two Different Operational Sex Ratio Troops at Huangshan, China. Zoological Research, 30(1): 83-89. DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2009.01083

Comparisons on Reproductive and Aggressive Behaviors in Male Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) of Two Different Operational Sex Ratio Troops at Huangshan, China

  • Operational sex ratio (OSR) is the ratio of the number of sexually mature males to the estrous females, which is used to predict the intensity of sexual selection. During the mating season (August-December 2007), we studied reproductive and aggressive behaviors in sexually mature male Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibitana) in two troops (YA1 and YA2) at Huangshan, China. The behavioral data were collected by focal animal sampling, ad libitum sampling and continuous recording. The purpose is to discuss the impact of OSR on mating competition of male Tibetan macaques. The OSR of YA1 was 0.4:1, and the OSR of YA2 was 0.9:1. The male-biased in OSR of YA2 was higher than YA1. The sexually mature males of high rank in YA1 troop showed higher rates of reproductive behaviors than the males in YA2: genital-inspecting, grimace, sexual chase and mating, respectively (P<0.01). The sexually mature males of middle rank in YA1 troop showed higher rates of reproductive behaviors than the males in YA2: genital-inspecting, grimace, sexual chase (P<0.01). The sexually mature males of middle rank in YA1 troop also showed higher rate of mating behavior than the males in YA2 (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in reproductive behaviors between sexually mature males of low rank in two troops. The sexually mature males of high rank in YA2 troop showed higher rate of aggressive behavior than the males in YA1 (P<0.01). The sexually mature males of middle rank in YA2 troop showed higher rate of aggressive behavior than the males in YA1 (P<0.05). The sexually mature males of low rank in YA1 troop didn’t show any aggressive behavior. These results suggested that the intensification of male-biased in OSR can lead to the decrease of reproductive behaviors and the increase of aggressive behavior of male Tibetan macaques. The intensity of mating competition of sexually mature males in YA2 troop was stronger than the males in YA1. Our results support the prediction of the impact of OSR on mating competition by sexual selection theory.
  • loading

Catalog

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return