Bio Anthro Chapter 7

Flashcards on Primate Sociality, Social Behavior, and Communication

Examples of Social Behaviors

Touching, hugging, mouthing, mounting, lip smacking, vocalizing, greeting, and grooming.

Sexual Dimorphism

When male primate bodies adapt to compete for females, resulting in larger body and canine sizes.

Polygynous

One male, multifemale residence pattern.

Polyandrous

One female, multimale residence pattern.

Multimale, Multifemale

Both sexes mate promiscuously, with relatively low competition for mates.

All Male

Relatively temporary group of males before joining a multigender group.

Monogamous

One male, one female; male invests a large amount of time and energy in the young.

Solitary

Interaction between adult male and females only occur for sexual activity.

Sexual Selection

Change in the frequency of traits due to the attractiveness of those traits to members of the opposite sex.

Infanticide

Killing a nursing infant, primarily by a foreign male that drove out the single male in a polygynous group.

Kin Selection

Altruistic behaviors that increase the fitness of the donor’s relatives.

Dominance Hierarchies

Females compete for resources to care for young.

Quality Food

Provide readily digestible energy and protein.

Distribution (of food)

Location of food across the landscape.

Food Availability

Can be highly fluid depending on season and rainfall.

Nonvocal Communication

Gesturing and signing.

Quiet Vocal Calls

Some can be heard only by nearby group members.

Loud Calls

Convey info over great distances, usually during encounters with predators, aggressive contests, or separation from the group.