| Social behavior is commonly existence in nature,even the solitary species have to look for the opposite sex to mate and care for their offspring.However,the degree of social interaction is highly different in many species.Especially in the highly socialized non-human primates,individual's social behavior is rich,the social interaction between individuals is frequently occurring,and social relationship is complex.Previous studies had shown that grooming was very important to maintain social relationship between individuals and the stability of group.However,there are few studies on the costs associated with grooming behavior.Especially grooming as a direct physical contact behavior,which may be associated with the risk of disease transmission.Therefore,it is necessary to further study on the costs of grooming behavior,in order to better understand the costs and benefits of grooming in non-human primates.In this study,sampling was done throughout the mating season(2015.09-2016.01)and non-mating season(2016.03-2016.05)on Tibetan macaques of YA1 group at Mount Huangshan,China.We utilized focal animal sampling method and behavioral sampling method to collect behavioral data and used nylon sieve elutriation method to detect the gut nematodes load from fecal samples.In order to explore the relationship between grooming behavior and gut nematodes load.The main results are as follows:(1)We detected individual's gut nematodes load from collected samples in mating season(19 individuals)and non-mating season(18 individuals),the results showed that there was no significant difference in mating and non-mating seasons on gut nematodes load(P = 0.501).(2)Based on aggression-submission behavior to calculate the value of DS represents individual's dominance rank,then explore the relationship between gut nematodes load and dominance rank.Results showed that dominance rank was not significantly correlated with gut nematodes load(Male:Mating season:P = 0.405;Non-mating season:P = 0.716.Female:Mating season:P = 0.824;Non-mating season:P = 0.712).(3)We used the focal animal sampling method to collect grooming behavior data to explore the relationship between the grooming behavior(Duration and frequency of grooming investment and receiving)and gut nematode load.Results showed that individual's grooming investment by duration and frequency,showed a significant positive correlation with gut nematodes load(Grooming duration:Mating season:P ?0.000;Non-mating season:P = 0.000;Grooming frequency:Mating season:P =0.001;Non-mating season:P = 0.000).Grooming receiving duration had no significant correlation with gut nematodes load(Mating season:P = 0.992;Non-mating season:P = 0.221).In mating season,there was no significant correlation between the grooming receiving frequency and gut nematodes load(P = 0.115),while in the non-mating season,grooming receiving frequency had a positive correlation with gut nematodes load(P = 0.000).(4)Based on the individual grooming behavior,we calculated the eigenvector centrality of individuals through SOCPROG software to explore the relationship between the eigenvector and gut nematodes load.Results showed that individual's eigenvector centrality was significantly positive correlated with the gut nematodes load(Mating season:P = 0.002;Non-mating season:P = 0.001).(5)Based on individual's grooming behavior,we explore the relationship between social bond strength(An index represent the strength of affiliation)and gut nematodes load.Results showed that there was no significant correlation between the gut nematodes load and social bond strength between individuals(Mating season:P =0.281;Non-mating season:P = 0.697).Our study indicated that the grooming behavior between Tibetan macaques were accompanied by the spread of gut nematodes,the actively groomers were more susceptible infected by gut nematodes.Our research results supported the idea that parasites and diseases spread were the mainly cost of the social interaction in non-human primates.Our work made for understanding the costs and benefits of grooming in primates and the evolution of grooming behavior,as well as promoting conservation and management of primates. |
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