Long-Term Assessment of Captive Chimpanzees: Influence of Social Group Composition, Seasonality and Biographic Background
Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) live in flexible fission–fusion societies with frequent changes in both group size and composition. These changes depend mostly on resource availability and individual social preferences yet in captivity are determined by housing organizations. During a period of seven years, we observed a group of sanctuary chimpanzees, focusing on how they adapted […]
The effects of allogrooming and social network position on behavioural indicators of stress in female lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)
Allogrooming serves an important social function in primates and confers short term benefits such as parasite removal and stress-relief. There is currently mixed evidence as to the immediate impact of allogrooming on an individual’s stress levels, which may be influenced by their role in the grooming dyad, position in their social network, or their relationship […]
The utility of social network analysis for informing zoo management: Changing network dynamics of a group of captive hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) following an introduction of two young males
Comprehensive knowledge of social groups within zoos allows for better understanding of the issues surrounding group stability and how to provide captive animals with optimal care. A developing area of sociality research that works to improve this understanding is social network analysis (SNA), which allows scientists to apply quantitative measures of group systems to represent […]
The utility of social network analysis for informing zoo management: Changing network dynamics of a group of captive hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) following an introduction of two young males
Comprehensive knowledge of social groups within zoos allows for better understanding of the issues surrounding group stability and how to provide captive animals with optimal care. A developing area of sociality research that works to improve this understanding is social network analysis (SNA), which allows scientists to apply quantitative measures of group systems to represent […]
Exploring the social network of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in captivity
Socially flexible species might be at an advantage when facing environmental unpredictability, human-induced rapid environmental changes, or unnatural conditions such as encountered in captivity. The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was originally described as solitarily living forest-dwelling species. In recent decades, it has expanded its range into urban and agricultural areas forming large aggregations in […]
Evaluation of social compatibility in an all‐male group of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) by means of social network analysis
The study here presented provides preliminary data regarding social compatibility of an all-male group of five chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), assessed by means of a social network analysis (SNA). The study was conducted at the Fundació Mona (Girona, Spain), where data on social behavior were collected in two consecutive 2-week periods using continuous focal animal sampling […]
Investigating the effects of sex and rearing-history on social network position in zoo-housed bonobos
Social network analysis can be a valuable tool for the management of zoo-housed animals and captive breeding programs, since an individual’s social network position is typically associated with its reproductive success, longevity, and overall welfare. This is especially true for primates, due to their rich and complex social lives. While many studies have investigated individual […]
Does the social network structure of wild animal populations differ from that of animals in captivity?
The social behaviour of wild animals living in groups leads to social networks with structures that produce group-level effects and position individuals within them with differential consequences for an individual’s fitness. Social dynamics in captivity can differ greatly from those in wild conspecifics given the different constraints on social organization in wild populations, e.g. group […]
Understanding sociality and behavior change associated with a nesting event in a captive flock of great white pelicans
Zoo‐housed pelicans are commonplace, but their breeding record is poor and little research is published on the activity patterns, as potential predictors of nesting, of captive flocks. Existing literature shows that comparative research can provide useful information for husbandry and conservation planning for pelican populations. The opportunity arose to investigate the time‐activity budget and social […]
Social associations in captive Caribbean flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber and their implications for flock management
Studying the flamingo’s preferential associations provides information on welfare indicators such as aggression and reproduction. This study investigated associations within the Caribbean flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber flock at Zoo de Granby, Québec, using an association index (AI) to measure the strength of associations. Based on previous literature, it was predicted that (1) pairs would remain stable […]