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Dominance rank influences female space use in wild chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes: towards an ideal despotic distribution

Publication ,  Journal Article
Murray, CM; Mane, SV; Pusey, AE
Published in: Animal Behaviour
December 1, 2007

Studies from many different taxa have demonstrated that dominance rank greatly influences individual space use. While the importance of dominance among female chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, was debated in the past, mounting evidence now shows that rank is very important. In particular, rank has been shown to influence body mass, foraging strategies, association patterns, and ultimately, reproductive success. In this study, we investigated how rank influenced female space use among chimpanzees, P.t. schweinfurthii, at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Analysing 10 years of data, we found that new immigrants used areas away from dominant females, and that subordinates had lower site fidelity. We also found that high-ranking females had smaller core areas and that this size difference was pronounced during periods of food scarcity when food competition is highest. These patterns suggest that dominant females outcompete subordinates, forcing them to settle elsewhere, range more widely, and shift their space use across time. © 2007.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Animal Behaviour

DOI

ISSN

0003-3472

Publication Date

December 1, 2007

Volume

74

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1795 / 1804

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 52 Psychology
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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Murray, C. M., Mane, S. V., & Pusey, A. E. (2007). Dominance rank influences female space use in wild chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes: towards an ideal despotic distribution. Animal Behaviour, 74(6), 1795–1804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.03.024
Journal cover image

Published In

Animal Behaviour

DOI

ISSN

0003-3472

Publication Date

December 1, 2007

Volume

74

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1795 / 1804

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 52 Psychology
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences