Abstract
The behavioral ecology of mountain baboons, Papio ursinus,cuts across the traditional dichotomy between savannah and desert baboons, providing fresh opportunities to examine socioecological relationships. Mountain baboons were studied at a site where covariation in altitude and group size helps to clarify the influence of ecology on social behavior. One-male groups and lone males were regularly found in the highest-altitude zones. In encounters with multimale groups, a one-male group retreated; the group’s single male attacked his females, herding them far away from the multimale group. The male himself then approached and watched (and often loud-called at) this group. In a two-male group, the younger male herded the females, while the older sometimes defended the group. One-male groups did not show regular, stable aggregations, but two such groups seasonally coordinated their ranging “in tandem.” Ecological explanations for these behaviors and their relationship to the behavior of hamadryas baboons are evaluated, and a new theory of the origin of one-male groups in baboons is developed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abegglen, J. J. (1984).On Socialisation in Hamadryas Baboons, Associated University Presses, East Brunswick.
Altmann, S. A., and Altmann, J. (1970).Baboon Ecology, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Anderson, C. M. (1981a). Subtrooping in a chacma baboon (Papio ursin us) population.Primates 22: 445–458.
Anderson, C. M. (1981b). Intertroop relations of chacma baboon (Papio ursinus).Int. J. Primatol. 2: 285–309.
Anderson, C. M. (1983). Levels of social organization and male-female bonding in the genusPapio. Am. J. phys. Anthropol. 60: 15–22.
Buskirk, W. H., Buskirk, R. E., and Hamilton, W. J. (1974). Troop-mobilising behavior of adult male chacma baboons.Folia primatol. 22: 9–18.
Busse, C., and Hamilton, W. J. (1981). Infant carrying by male chacma baboons.Science 212: 1281–1283.
Byrne, R. W. (1981). Distance calls of Guinea baboons (Papio papio) in Senegal: An analysis of function.Behavior 78: 283–312.
Byrne, R. W. (1982). Primate vocalisations: Structural and functional approaches to understanding.Behaviour 80: 241–258.
Byrne, R. W., Whiten, A., and Henzi, S. P. (1987). Social relationships in mountain baboons: Leadership and affiliation in a non-female oonded monkey (submitted for publication).
Caro, T. M. (1976). Observations on the ranging behaviour and daily activity of lone silverback mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla berengei).Anim. Behav. 24: 889–897.
Cheney, D. L., and Seyfarth, R. M. (1977). Behaviour of adult and immature male baboons in inter-group encounters.Nature (London) 269: 404–406.
Clutton-Brock, T. H., and Harvey, P. H. (1977). Primate ecology and social organisation.J. Zool. (London) 183: 1–39.
Crook, J. H., and Aldrich-Blake, F. P. G. (1968). Ecological and behavioral contrasts between sympatric ground-dwelling primates in Ethiopia.Folia primatol. 8: 192–227.
Crook, J. H., and Gartlan, J. S. (1966). Evolution of primate societies.Nature (London) 210: 1200–1203.
Darwin, C. (1871).The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, John Murray, London.
Datta, S. B. (1983). Patterns of agonistic interference. In Hinde, R. A. (ed.),Primate Social Relationships, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 289–297.
Gautier, J.-P., and Gautier, A. (1977). Communication in Old World monkeys. In Sebeok, T. A. (ed.),How Animals Communicate, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, pp. 890–963.
Hall, K. R. L., and De Vore, I. (1965). Baboon social behavior. In De Vore, I. (ed.),Primate Behavior: Field Studies of Monkeys and Apes, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, pp. 53–110.
Hamilton, W. J., and Tilson, R. L. (1982). Solitary male chacma baboons in a desert canyon.Am. J. Primatol. 2: 149–158.
Hamilton, W. J., Buskirk, R. E., and Buskirk, W. H. (1975). Chacma baboon tactics during intertroop encounters.J. Mammal. 56: 857–870.
Harcourt, A. H., Stewart, K. J., and Fossey, D. (1976). Male emigration and female transfer in wild mountain gorilla.Nature (London) 263: 226–227.
Kummer, H. (1968).Social Organization of Hamadryas Baboons, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Kummer, H. (1984). From laboratory to desert and back: A social system of hamadryas baboons.Anim. Behav. 32: 965–971.
Kummer, H., Banaja, A. A., Abo-Khatwa, A. N., and Ghandour, A. M. (1985). Differences in social behavior between Ethiopian and Arabian hamadryas baboons.Folia primatol. 45: 1–8.
Maxim, P. E., and Buettner-Janusch, J. (1963). A field study of the Kenya baboon.Am. J. phys. Anthropol. 21: 165–180.
Nash, L. T. (1973).Social Behavior and Social Development in Baboons (Papio anubis)at the Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Berkeley.
Ohsawa, H., and Dunbar, R. I. M. (1984). Variation in the demographic structure and dynamics of gelada baboon populations.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 15: 231–240.
Packer, C. (1979). Inter-troop transfer and inbreeding avoidance inPapio anubis.Anim. Behav. 27: 1–36.
Paterson, J. (1973). Ecologically differentiated patterns of aggressive and sexual behavior in two troops of Ugandan baboons,Papio anubis.Am. J. phys. Anthropol. 38: 641–648.
Ranson, T. W. (1971).Ecology and Social Behavior of Baboons in Gombe Stream National Park, Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Berkeley.
Schalter, G. B. (1963).The Mountain Gorilla: Ecology and Behavior, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Stoltz, L. P., and Saayman, G. S. (1970). Ecology and behavior of baboons in the Northern Transvaal.Ann. Transvaal Mus. 26: 99–143.
Van Schaik, C. P. (1983). Why are diurnal primates living in groups?Behaviour 87: 120–144.
Waser, P. M. (1977). Individual recognition, intragroup cohesion and intergroup spacing: Evidence from sound playback to forest monkeys.Behaviour 60: 28–74.
Whiten, A., Byrne, R. W., and Henzi, S. P. (1987). The behavioral ecology of mountain baboons.Int. J. Primatol. 8: 367–388.
Wrangham, R. W. (1979). On the evolution of ape social systems.Soc. Sci. Inform. 18: 335–368.
Wrangham, R. W. (1980). An ecological model of female-bonded primate groups.Behaviour 75: 262–300.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Byrne, R.W., Whiten, A. & Henzi, S.P. One-male groups and intergroup interactions of mountain baboons. Int J Primatol 8, 615–633 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735780
Received:
Revised:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735780
