Social behaviour and communication of free-ranging Guinea baboons (Papio papio)

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Baboons (Papio spp.) constitute one of the most important models for understanding the evolution of primate social systems. The origin of baboons is thought to be in southern Africa. During the Pleistocene members of the genus dispersed in baboon-free areas of large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Guinea baboons constitute the western and hamadryas baboons the eastern extreme of the baboon dispersion. In contrast to other baboon species whose social and vocal behaviour has been extensively studied, the social system and vocal communication of Guinea baboons is only poorly understood. According to theoretical models regarding the dynamics of baboon dispersal – the so-called frontier hypothesis – it is expected that Guinea baboon males remain in the natal group (male philopatry, as also found in hamadryas baboons), reveal frequent male affiliation and low degrees of male-male competition, as well as low mating and reproductive skew. Correspondingly, male display fights involving loud calls, as found in southern African chacma baboons, should be rare or absent. Vocal signals should mainly be used to coordinate affiliative interactions and group movements in this apparently fluid fission-fusion society. To test these predictions, behavioural data and acoustic recordings shall be collected from wild Guinea baboons ranging in the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal. This study shall lay the ground for a long-term investigation of the socio-cognitive underpinnings of life in a complex multi-layered society, and contribute data to a broader comparative study of the diversity of baboon vocal communication.