The Evolution of Social Organization in Primates: An Empirical Test

该项目的主要目标是确定研究地点，在那里可以测试灵长类动物社会系统进化的替代模型。一种理论模型假设，一种社会制度向另一种社会制度的转变涉及到男性和女性之间交往模式的离散和可预测的变化序列。根据这一模型，从以女性亲属群体为基础的社会体系向无血缘关系的女性群体的转变，涉及到一个中间步骤，即女性不与其他女性交往。另一种模型假设，草原狒狒的典型雌性结合，多雄性群体直接转变为非雌性结合，一个雄性的hamadryas狒狒单位。在后者中，确定了改变女性之间交往性质和女性与男性之间关系性质的生态因素。研究者最终将通过研究两个不同栖息地和群体结构的chacma狒狒种群的环境条件和社会组织之间的关系来测试从这些模型中得出的不同预测。调查员将调查纳米比亚、博茨瓦纳和南非共和国的场址的可行性和可取性。

The primary objective of the proposed project is to locate study sites at which alternative models for the evolution of primate social systems may be tested. One theoretical model postulates that the transformation of one social system to another involves a discrete and predictable sequence of changes in association patterns among males and females. According to this model, the transformation from social systems based upon female kin groups to groups of unrelated females, involves an intermediate step in which females do not associate with other females. An alternate model postulates the direct transformation of the typical female-bonded, multi-male groups of savannah baboons into the non-female-bonded, one male units of hamadryas baboons. In the latter ecological factors are identified that alter the nature of asociations among females and the nature of relationships among females and males. The investigator ultimately will test divergent predictions derived from these models by studying the relationship between environmental conditions and social orgnization in two populations of chacma baboons that vary in their habitat and group structure. The investigator will survey sites in Namibia, Botswana and the Republic of South Africa for feasibility and desirability.