Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2015
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Primate Behavior
Committee Chair
Lori K. Sheeran
Second Committee Member
R. Steven Wagner
Third Committee Member
Lixing Sun
Fourth Committee Member
Jessica A. Mayhew
Abstract
The dispersal patterns of food resources has a significant effect on the composition of primate groups and social interactions within those groups. Humans often alter the dispersal of food. Non-humans often use affiliative behaviors to elicit tolerance or support from other group members. I investigated whether provisioned food resources alter the social interactions and group dynamics of Macaca thibetana. All-occurrence sampling and scan sampling were used for data recorded by camera traps. Trail-cameras were placed at six locations that contain natural and human food resources and recorded 60-second videos. Social behavior and proximity of the monkeys were recorded. I found that M. thibetana maintain closer proximity while in non-provisioning areas at Mt. Huangshan. The data also shows that they exhibit higher levels of agonistic and submissive behavior while in the provisioning areas than while in the non-provisioning areas, and they engage in more affiliative behaviors while in non-provisioning areas than while in provisioning areas.
Recommended Citation
Schnepel, Brianna I., "Provisioning and Its Effects on the Social Interactions of Tibetan Macaques (Macaca Thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China" (2015). All Master's Theses. 399.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/399
Language
English
Included in
Animal Studies Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Forest Management Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Population Biology Commons, Sustainability Commons, Zoology Commons