Gould L
Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Am J Phys Anthropol. 1997 Jun;103(2):163-71. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8644(199706)103:2<163::AID-AJPA3>3.0.CO;2-V.
Affiliative relations between adult males and immature group members were studied in three naturally occurring groups of ringtailed lemurs (Lemur catta) over a 12-month period at Beza-Mahafaly Reserve, southwestern Madagascar. No statistically significant difference was found in rates of affiliative interactions between adult males and older immatures (juveniles and adolescents) over reproductive seasons. However, some of the adult males in two focal groups increased their rates of affiliative behaviors with older immatures during the lactation and subsequent 1993 postmigration periods. Female involvement with infants during lactation season, the increasing independence of juveniles and adolescents, and length of male tenure may be factors contributing to such a pattern. Neither adult males nor immatures were significantly responsible for the initiation and maintenance of proximity in male-immature dyadic interactions. Neither dominance rank nor age-class of the adult male affected their rates of affiliative behavior with immatures. The majority of focal males exhibited an interest in infants and occasionally participated in alloparental care. It is suggested that adult males can benefit from affiliative relations with immatures in terms of opportunities for greater spatial centrality in the group, which can lead to enhanced predator protection and greater opportunities to develop affiliative relationships with females. Immatures can benefit from affiliation with males in relation to enhanced predator detection and protection, alloparental care, and opportunities to develop social skills.
在马达加斯加西南部的贝扎 - 马哈法利保护区，对三个自然形成的环尾狐猴（Lemur catta）群体中的成年雄性与未成年群体成员之间的亲和关系进行了为期12个月的研究。在繁殖季节，成年雄性与年龄较大的未成年个体（幼猴和亚成体）之间的亲和互动率没有发现统计学上的显著差异。然而，在两个重点研究群体中，一些成年雄性在哺乳期以及随后的1993年迁移后时期，与年龄较大的未成年个体的亲和行为率有所增加。雌性在哺乳期对幼崽的参与、幼猴和亚成体独立性的增加以及雄性任期的长短可能是导致这种模式的因素。在成年雄性与未成年个体的二元互动中，无论是成年雄性还是未成年个体，都对接近行为的发起和维持没有显著影响。成年雄性的优势等级和年龄类别都不会影响它们与未成年个体的亲和行为率。大多数重点研究的雄性对幼崽表现出兴趣，偶尔还会参与异亲照料。研究表明，成年雄性可以从与未成年个体的亲和关系中受益，获得在群体中更中心的空间位置的机会，这可以增强对捕食者的保护，并增加与雌性发展亲和关系的机会。未成年个体可以从与雄性的亲和关系中受益，在增强对捕食者的察觉和保护、异亲照料以及发展社交技能的机会方面。
