Relatedness of matrilines, dispersing males and social groups in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

J. R. De Ruiter*, E. Geffen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

97 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genealogical relatedness is thought to be an important causal factor in the evolution of cooperation. We inferred relatedness on the basis of 11 blood protein markers using the Queller and Goodnight index of relatedness in a macaque population with long-term demographic records. This estimate reflected independently determined pedigree relationships in our data set. Mean relatedness among all members of a social group was 0.10 but much higher levels of relatedness (0.30-0.47) were found among the members of matrilineal families with a high or intermediate social rank. Groups of dispersing males that had been born into the same social group were sometimes closely related (0.43 and 0.58), but they could also be less related (0.08). We found that the pattern of distribution of relatedness was associated with gene flow and differential reproduction in males, rather than with group fission and the presence of geographical barriers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-87
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume265
Issue number1391
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Jan 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dispersal
  • Geographic barrier
  • Macaque
  • Paternity matriline
  • Relatedness

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Relatedness of matrilines, dispersing males and social groups in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this