Zinner, D. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2020

Post-copulatory behavior of olive baboons (Papio anubis) infected by Treponema pallidum

In nonhuman primates pathogens are known to exert a profound and pervasive cost on various aspects of their sociality and reproduction. In olive baboons (Papio anubis) at Lake Manyara National Park, genital skin ulcers caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue lead to mating avoidance in females and altered mating patterns at a pre-copulatory and copulatory level. Beyond this level, sexual behavior comprises also post-copulatory interactions among the sexual partners. To investigate whether the presence of genital skin ulcers has an impact at the post-copulatory level, we analyzed 517 copulation events of 32 cycling females and 29 males. The occurrence of post-copulatory behaviors (i.e., copulation calls, darting [female rapid withdraw from the male] and post-copulatory grooming) was not altered by the presence of genital skin ulcerations. Similarly to other baboon populations, females of our group were more likely to utter copulation calls after ejaculatory copulation. The likelihood of darting was higher after ejaculatory copulations and with the presence of copulation calls. Post-copulatory grooming was rarely observed but when it occurred, males groomed females for longer periods when females uttered copulation calls during, or preceding mating. Our results indicate that despite the presence of conspicuous genital skin ulcers, the post-copulatory behavior was not affected by the genital health status of the dyad. This suggests that infection cues play a major role before and during mating but do not affect post-copulatory behavior.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2019

Coordination during group departures and group progressions in the tolerant multilevel society of wild Guinea baboons (Papio papio)

ObjectivesMost primate species live in groups, and temporal and spatial coordination of activities of individuals is essential for maintaining group cohesion, and there is still considerable debate to which degree social organization, the extent of despotism, and resource distribution shape group coordination processes. As different baboon species exhibit considerable variation in all of these factors, they constitute an excellent test case to resolve this debate.\n\nMaterials and MethodsWe analyzed group departures and progressions of Guinea baboons, Papio papio, in the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal. Guinea baboons live in a multi-level society with strong male bonds and a lack of a clear dominance hierarchy between males.\n\nResultsTwo-thirds of departures were initiated by adult males, and one third by adult females. Although initiators were more likely to signal than followers, signaling did not affect the initiation success. During group progression, males that were not affiliated with females were predominantly found in the front, while affiliated males, females and young were observed more frequently closer to the center of the group, and no preferences for rear positions. Overall, affiliated subjects were more likely to depart and travel together.\n\nDiscussionThe group departures in Guinea baboons differed strikingly from the elaborate negotiation behaviors among male hamadryas baboons, Papio hamadryas. We did not observe that specific individuals dominated the group coordination. Neither social organization, variation in despotism, nor resource distribution alone explain variation between species. Future studies should test whether specific combinations of factors promote the occurrence of negotiation processes.\n\nResearch HighlightsO_LIIn wild Guinea baboons, both adult males and females initiated group departures\nC_LIO_LIInitiators signaled during departures, but this did not affect initiation success\nC_LIO_LISolitary males were predominantly found at the front during group progression\nC_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗