Skip to main content
Log in

Benefits to Female Helpers in Wild Rhinopithecus roxellana

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To assess what female Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) gain from allowing others to care for their infants, we collected behavioral data on 12 mother-infant dyads at Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains, China. Mothers’ feeding time significantly increased when infants were cared for by other group members versus when they were cared for by the mothers themselves. The time mothers spent autogrooming and receiving grooming also increased when they were temporarily relieved of maternal duties; however, mothers did not groom other individuals more when they were not encumbered by infants. There are several benefits that mothers gain from having helpers care for their infants: They gain more time to feed and thus increase their feeding efficiency. Mothers have more time to engage in hygienic and maintenance activities because they autogroom and receive allogrooming more. Lastly, mothers save energy when their infants are with helpers. Wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkey mothers meet their basic survival and maintenance needs because of helping behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altmann, J. (1974). Observational study of behavior; sampling methods. Behaviour, 69, 227–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chism, J. (1986). Development and mother-infant relations among captive patas monkeys. International Journal of Primatology, 7, 49–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DaSilva, G. L. (1992). The western back-and-white colobus as a low-energy strategist: Activity budgets, energy expenditure and energy intake. Journal of Animal Ecology, 61, 79–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldizen, A. (1987). Facultative polyandry and the role of infant carrying in wild saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 20, 99–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gumert, M. D. (2007). Grooming-infant handling interchange: The relationship between infant supply and grooming payment in Macaca fascicularis. International Journal of Primatology, 28, 1059–1074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henzi, S. P., & Barrett, L. B. (2002). Infants as a commodity in a baboon market. Animal Behaviour, 63, 915–921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hrdy, S. B. (1976). The care and exploitation of non-human primate infants by conspecifics other than the mother. In J. S. Rosenblatt, R. A. Hinde, E. Shaw, & C. Beer (Eds.), Advances in the study of behavior (pp. 251–383). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hrdy, S. B. (1977). Infanticide as a primate reproductive strategy. American Naturalist, 65, 40–49.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchins, M., & Barash, D. P. (1976). Grooming in primates: Implications for its utilitarian functions. Primates, 17, 145–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. (1980). The functions of status in the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata Gray): intraspecific competition for group membership in a folivorous neotropical primate. Primates, 21, 389–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick, R. C. (1995). The natural history and conservation of the snub-nosed monkeys (genus Rhinopithecus). Biological Conservation, 72, 363–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, J. (1971). Play-mothering: The relations between juvenile female and young infants among free-ranging vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Folia Primatologica, 15, 161–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, B. G., Chen, C., Ji, W. H., & Ren, B. P. (2000). Seasonal home range changes of the Sichuan Snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains of China. Folia Primatologica, 71, 375–386.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. H., Li, B. G., & Tan, C. L. (2005). Behavioral development within one-year-old individuals of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 51, 953–960 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, B. G., Zhang, P., Watanabe, K., & Tan, C. L. (2002). Does allogrooming serve a hygienic function in the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Acta Zoologica Sinica, 48, 707–715 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, B. G., & Zhao, D. P. (2007). Copulation behavior within one-male groups of wild Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains of China. Primates, 48, 190–196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindburg, D. G. (1973). Grooming behavior as a regulator of social interaction in rhesus monkeys. In C. R. Carpenter (Ed.), Behavioral regulator of behavior in primates (pp. 124–128). Lewisburg, PA: Bucknell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lv, J. Q., Zhao, D. P., & Li, B. G. (2007). Prolonged carrying of a dead infant among the golden monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains, China. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 53, 175–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maestripieri, D. (1994a). Social structure, infant handling, and mothering styles in group-living old world monkeys. International Journal of Primatology, 15, 531–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maestripieri, D. (1994b). Influence of infants on female social relationships in monkeys. Folia Primatologica, 63, 192–202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, P., & Bateson, P. (1993). Measuring behavior: An introductory guide. Cambridge, U.K: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitani, J. C., & Watts, D. (1997). The evolution of non-maternal caretaking among anthropoid primates: Do helpers help? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 40, 213–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, P. N., & Dunbar, R. I. M. (1994). Colobine monkey society. In A. G. Davies, & J. F. Oates (Eds.), Colobine monkeys: Their ecology, behaviour and evolution (pp. 311–346). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolson, N. A. (1987). Infants, mothers and other females. In B. B. Smuts, D. L. Cheney, R. M. Seyfarth, R. W. Wrangham, & T. T. Struhsaker (Eds.), Primate societies (pp. 330–342). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quiatt, D. (1979). Aunts and mothers: Adaptive implications of allomaternal behaviour of non-human primates. American Anthropologist, 81, 310–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, R. M., Yan, K. H., Su, Y., Li, J., & Zhou, Y. (2000). A field study of the society of Rhinopithecus roxellana pp. 67–170. Beijing: Peking University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedman, M. L. (1982). The evolution of alloparental care and adoption in mammals and birds. Quarterly Review of Biology, 57, 405–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, C., & MacLarnon, A. (2000). The evolution of non-maternal care in anthropoid primates: A test of hypothesis. Folia Primatologica, 71, 93–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schaller, G. B. (1985). China’s golden treasure. International Wildlife, 15, 29–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheid, C., & Noe, R. (2005). Baby market in vervet monkeys. Primate Report, 72, 84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi, D. C., Li, G. H., & Hu, T. Q. (1982). Preliminary study on the ecology of Golden haired monkey. Zoological Research, 3, 105–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silk, J. B. (1980). Kidnapping and female competition among captive bonnet macaques. Primates, 21, 100–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, V. (1989). Infant mistreatment in langur monkeys: Sociobiology from the wrong end? In A. Rasa, C. Vogel, & E. Voland (Eds.), The sociobiology of sexual and reproductive strategies (pp. 100–127). New York: Chapman and Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanford, C. (1992). Costs and benefits of allomothering in wild capped langurs (Presbytis pileata). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 30, 29–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, Y. J., Ren, R. M., Qi, H. J., Liang, B., & Bao, W. Y. (1992). The research of social relationship of infant golden monkeys in a breeding group. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 24, 66–72 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, I., & Takefushi, H. (1993). Elimination of external parasites (lice) is the primary function of grooming in free-ranging Japanese macaques. Anthropological Science, 101, 187–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, C. (1984). Patterns of infant-transfer within two troops of common langurs (Presbytis entellus) near Jodhpur: Testing hypotheses concerning the benefits and risks. In M. Roonwal, S. Mohnot, & N. Rathore (Eds.), Current primate researches (pp. 361–379). Jodhpur: University of Jodhpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasser, S. K. (1983). Reproductive competition and cooperation among female yellow baboons. In S. K. Wasser (Ed.), Social behavior of female vertebrates (pp. 349–390). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitten, P. L. (1982). Female reproductive strategies among vervet monkeys. PhD thesis, Boston: Harvard University.

  • Yang, X. J. (1996). Observations of the nursing and aunt behaviors of Sichuan golden monkeys in captive. Journal of Gansu Agricultural University, 3l, 334–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. Z., Quan, G. Q., Zhao, T. G., & Southwick, C. H. (1992). Distribution of primates (except Macaca) in China. Acta Theriologica Sinica, 12, 81–95.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, P., Watanabe, K., Li, B. G., & Tan, C. L. (2006). Social organization of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains, Central China. Primates, 47, 374–382.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve for granting us permission to carry out the research. We thank Dr. Ron Moorhouse for helpful comments on the manuscript. Grants from The Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30630016, No.30770375, No.30570312) and Cosmo Oil Eco Card Fund of Japan (2005–2010) funded the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baoguo Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xi, W., Li, B., Zhao, D. et al. Benefits to Female Helpers in Wild Rhinopithecus roxellana . Int J Primatol 29, 593–600 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-008-9260-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-008-9260-y

Keywords

Navigation