Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Winter 2012

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Dr. R. Steven Wagner, Biological Sciences

Second Committee Member

Dr. Lori K. Sheeran, Anthropology

Third Committee Member

Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program

Abstract

Primate play is an important feature of physical and cognitive development. Previous research suggests differences among age and sex classes for type and amount of play, and that play partner preference is for individuals of the same age and sex class. We investigated play among Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana) infants and juveniles. Infants played more often and engaged in more solitary play behaviors, juvenile females played the least and engaged in more object play, and juvenile males engaged in the most social play. Total play time differed significantly among infants, juvenile males, and juvenile females. Cluster analysis showed that overall patterns of play and affiliation were with similarly aged individuals instead of based on sex or mother's rank (T+ -5.990, A=0.560, p=0.0002). Preference of similarly aged individuals for play and affiliation partners was further supported by a Heatmap based on non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis.

Comments

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