Social correlates of individual spatial choice in foraging groups of brown capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella

Abstract

Individuals in a foraging group of wild bronwn capuchin monkeys choose different spatial positions relative to the rest of the group. Markov analysis of sequencess of individual spatial positions demonstrated significant differnces between individuals, which coul be categorized a posteriori into four homogenous subgroups. An individual's spatial position was related primarily to the amount of aggression it received from the group's dominant male, but also varied with its sex. Spatial choice varied with changes in an individual's social status, but did not vary consistently with seasonal differences in food availability. These results support the hypothesis that individuals compete for preferred spatial positions within a foraging group. © 1990 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.