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A Cross-Species Comparative Study:Grooming Patterns in Captive Populationsof Hamadryas Baboons and Geladas
Raymond Chiu Leong HoQueens College, City University of New York June, 2009
Senior Honors Thesis
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for aBachelor of Arts with Thesis Honors in Anthropologyfrom Queens College, City University of New York.
Supervised by Dr. Larissa Swedell
Readers:Dr. Sara StinsonDr. Ekaterina PechenkinaInstructor: _________________Date: _________________
Ho 2
Abstract
Primates groom themselves (autogrooming) and each other (allogrooming) for a varietyof purposes. Allogrooming is arguably an altruistic behavior, and may be explained by kinselection. The purpose of this study is to better understand the grooming patterns of captivehamadryas baboons (
Papio hamadryas hamadryas
) and geladas (
Theropithecus gelada
) withinthe context of kin selection theory, which posits that kin will interact, especially in altruisticways, more than non-kin.This study hypothesizes that grooming patterns in hamadryas baboons and geladas can beexplained by the patterns of philopatry, dispersal, social system and bonding that are seen in wildpopulations. The results of this study show that there is a higher frequency of allogrooming thanautogrooming in both hamadryas baboons and geladas. It also shows that gelada leader malesgroomed their females more than hamadryas leader males groomed their females, which does notsupport the hypothesis of this study. The following results showed a trend but were notstatistically significant enough to support the hypotheses: female hamadryas baboons andgeladas groomed more than male hamadryas baboons and geladas; hamadryas leader malesgroomed their females more than females groomed among themselves in the same hamadryasgroup; gelada females groomed each other more than gelada leader males and their females;male hamadryas baboons groomed more than male geladas; female geladas groomed more thanfemale hamadryas baboons; hamadryas baboons groomed more than geladas.In addition, this study also hypothesizes that there is a correlation between groomingfrequency and temperature. There is a positive correlation between grooming frequency andtemperature in hamadryas baboons but a negative correlation in geladas.
Ho 3
Introduction
Grooming is the bond that holds primate sociality together. In this study, I comparegrooming frequencies between captive populations of hamadryas baboons (
Papio hamadryashamadryas
) and geladas (
Theropithecus gelada
) in zoological parks. I test the hypothesis thatgrooming patterns in hamadryas and gelada baboons directly reflect their bonding patterns andsocial systems.
Grooming
Grooming is an action by which animals clean their skin, fur or feathers to remove dirtand ectoparasites from themselves or from others. Across the animal kingdom, grooming isprevalent and can be found in most taxa. Grooming helps get rid of scabs, parasites and foodparticles that are stuck on an individual's hair, fur, feather or skin (Falk, 2000; Nunn and Altizer,2006; Samish and Rehacek, 1999). At first glance, grooming serves a hygienic function orreduces the risk of disease, but several studies have shown that grooming serves a variety of other purposes.The function of grooming underwent an evolutionary change, altering its function fromsimple hygiene to, among other things, social bonding (Kummer, 1995). In addition to removingectoparasites and lowering the risk of disease (Falk, 2000; Nunn and Altizer, 2006; Samish andRehacek, 1999 ), grooming can also serve to strengthen social bonds (Kummer, 1995; Waldman,1988; Falk, 2000; Nunn and Altizer, 2006; Dunbar, 2008; Di Bitetti, 1997), reduce tension (Judgeet al., 2006), calm (Falk, 2000; Colmenares et al., 2002), soothe (Falk, 2000; Colmenares et al.,2002 ), appease (Falk, 2000), reassure (Swedell, 1997), reconcile after an aggressive interaction(Swedell, 1997), gain favor with more dominant individuals (Kummer, 1995; Falk, 2000; Schinoand Aureli, 2008) or indicate sexual receptivity (Falk, 2000, Morris and Bruce, 2005). Dunbar(2008) suggests that the major reason for grooming is the satisfaction of physical contactbetween the groomer and the individual being groomed. One of the functions of social groomingin birds and mammals is to reinforce friendly relationships (Parker and Jaffe, 2008).Grooming can be categorized into self grooming (autogrooming) and social grooming(allogrooming). Self grooming or autogrooming is defined as a grooming activity done by anindividual to itself. Autogrooming can be observed in both social groups and in solitaryindividuals. It is important to note that autogrooming is not a behavior ascribed only to solitaryindividuals. Adaptations for autogrooming such as dental combs and toilet claws in strepsirhineshelp groom areas that are hard to reach, for example the animal's back or the back of their head(Henzi and Barrett, 1999; Falk, 2000).Social grooming or allogrooming is defined as a grooming activity between individuals.The difference between autogrooming and allogrooming is that the former lacks the element of sociality. As the name indicates, allogrooming is a form of grooming where one individualgrooms another in a social context. Social grooming tends to be a reciprocal interaction and itinvolves more than one individual.
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