Mootnick A R, Nadler R D
International Center for Gibbon Studies, Santa Clarita, CA 91380, USA.
Dev Psychobiol. 1997 Sep;31(2):149-61.
The effect of early maternal separation on the sexual behavior of captive gibbons was investigated because (a) maternal separation compromises sexual behavior of some nonhuman primates and (b) adequate sexual behavior is essential to species propagation. Most of the maternally separated gibbons (24/31) were sexually proficient. Sexual behavior overall did not differ significantly in relation to species, sex, origin (wild-vs. captive-born), or type of rearing facility (home vs. zoo). Sexual proficiency was not related to the age at separation from the mother, but it was associated with introduction within 19 months of age to a conspecific of less than 3 years of age and an absolute age difference of less than 2 years. Sexual proficiency was associated with rearing and adult housing in relatively large enclosures. Gibbons that were isolated from conspecifics between 6 months and 2 years of age were strongly attached to humans, but this did not prevent sexual proficiency. A greater proportion of males than females were adversely affected sexually by prolonged early social isolation. Inadequate sexual behavior was associated with fearfulness of conspecifics, which probably interfered with compatible social relationships, including duetting. Inadequate sexual behavior was but one aspect of a more general behavioral deficiency resulting from inadequate early socialization. Early maternal separation in gibbons is compatible with species-typical sexual behavior under the conditions described above. It is not necessary for gibbons to learn sexual and parental behavior by observing experienced adult conspecifics.
研究了早期母婴分离对圈养长臂猿性行为的影响，原因如下：（a）母婴分离会损害一些非人类灵长类动物的性行为；（b）适当的性行为对物种繁衍至关重要。大多数母婴分离的长臂猿（24/31）在性方面表现熟练。总体而言，性行为在物种、性别、来源（野生与圈养出生）或饲养设施类型（家庭与动物园）方面没有显著差异。性熟练程度与与母亲分离的年龄无关，但与在19个月龄内引入一只年龄小于3岁且绝对年龄差小于2岁的同种个体有关。性熟练程度与在相对较大的围栏中饲养和成年后的居住环境有关。在6个月至2岁之间与同种个体隔离的长臂猿对人类有强烈的依恋，但这并不妨碍其性熟练程度。与雌性相比，更大比例的雄性因长期早期社会隔离而在性方面受到不利影响。性行为不足与对同种个体的恐惧有关，这可能会干扰包括二重唱在内的相容社会关系。性行为不足只是早期社交化不足导致的更普遍行为缺陷的一个方面。在上述条件下，长臂猿早期母婴分离与物种典型的性行为是相容的。长臂猿没有必要通过观察有经验的成年同种个体来学习性行为和育儿行为。
