Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that social bonds have adaptive value for animals that live in social groups. Although these findings suggest that natural selection may favor the ability to cultivate and sustain social bonds, we know very little about the factors that influence the quality or stability of social bonds. Here, we draw on data derived from a 16-year study of baboons living in seven different social groups in the Amboseli basin of Kenya to evaluate the quality and stability of social bonds among females. Our results extend previous analyses, which demonstrate that females form the strongest bonds with close maternal and paternal kin, age mates (who may be paternal kin), and females who occupy similar ranks but are not maternal relatives. Here we show that the same factors influence the quality and strength of social bonds. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the quality of social bonds directly affects their stability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 197-204 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Friendship
- Kin selection
- Nepotism
- Reciprocity
- Social bonds
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Ecology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Cite this
Social relationships among adult female baboons (Papio cynocephalus) II. Variation in the quality and stability of social bonds. / Silk, Joan; Alberts, Susan C.; Altmann, Jeanne.
In: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Vol. 61, No. 2, 12.2006, p. 197-204.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Social relationships among adult female baboons (Papio cynocephalus) II. Variation in the quality and stability of social bonds
AU - Silk, Joan
AU - Alberts, Susan C.
AU - Altmann, Jeanne
PY - 2006/12
Y1 - 2006/12
N2 - A growing body of evidence suggests that social bonds have adaptive value for animals that live in social groups. Although these findings suggest that natural selection may favor the ability to cultivate and sustain social bonds, we know very little about the factors that influence the quality or stability of social bonds. Here, we draw on data derived from a 16-year study of baboons living in seven different social groups in the Amboseli basin of Kenya to evaluate the quality and stability of social bonds among females. Our results extend previous analyses, which demonstrate that females form the strongest bonds with close maternal and paternal kin, age mates (who may be paternal kin), and females who occupy similar ranks but are not maternal relatives. Here we show that the same factors influence the quality and strength of social bonds. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the quality of social bonds directly affects their stability.
AB - A growing body of evidence suggests that social bonds have adaptive value for animals that live in social groups. Although these findings suggest that natural selection may favor the ability to cultivate and sustain social bonds, we know very little about the factors that influence the quality or stability of social bonds. Here, we draw on data derived from a 16-year study of baboons living in seven different social groups in the Amboseli basin of Kenya to evaluate the quality and stability of social bonds among females. Our results extend previous analyses, which demonstrate that females form the strongest bonds with close maternal and paternal kin, age mates (who may be paternal kin), and females who occupy similar ranks but are not maternal relatives. Here we show that the same factors influence the quality and strength of social bonds. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the quality of social bonds directly affects their stability.
KW - Friendship
KW - Kin selection
KW - Nepotism
KW - Reciprocity
KW - Social bonds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33751384635&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33751384635&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00265-006-0250-9
DO - 10.1007/s00265-006-0250-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33751384635
VL - 61
SP - 197
EP - 204
JO - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
JF - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
SN - 0340-5443
IS - 2
ER -