Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques
Abstract Strong social bonds in gregarious adult animals have been associated with lower levels of glucocorticoids. However, similar research is lacking for juvenile primates. We examined relationships between social bonds and mean concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 44 fre...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81962-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846101178871447552 |
|---|---|
| author | Katharine C. Burke Michael Heistermann James P. Higham Carol M. Berman |
| author_facet | Katharine C. Burke Michael Heistermann James P. Higham Carol M. Berman |
| author_sort | Katharine C. Burke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Strong social bonds in gregarious adult animals have been associated with lower levels of glucocorticoids. However, similar research is lacking for juvenile primates. We examined relationships between social bonds and mean concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 44 free-ranging juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. We measured frequencies of affiliative behavior (grooming, play, approaches and proximity) with other same-sex, same-aged juveniles (peers) and the total number of affiliative peer relationships. We found a positive relationship between fGCMs and grooming frequencies. Females that spent more time in proximity to peers also had higher fGCMs. In contrast, among juveniles with more closely related peers, those with more affiliative peers or more frequent play bouts had lower fGCMs. However, strong peer bonds in most juveniles did not appear to be associated with reduced glucocorticoid levels. fGCMs were higher for females than males, but were unassociated with physical activity, aggression, or peer seeking tendencies. We propose that the establishment and navigation of some peer bonds at this life stage may involve increased metabolic demand. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96d6127039c44a62bc787ac9618b537b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-96d6127039c44a62bc787ac9618b537b2024-12-29T12:27:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-81962-2Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaquesKatharine C. Burke0Michael Heistermann1James P. Higham2Carol M. Berman3Department of Anthropology, University at BuffaloEndocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate ResearchDepartment of Anthropology, New York UniversityDepartment of Anthropology, University at BuffaloAbstract Strong social bonds in gregarious adult animals have been associated with lower levels of glucocorticoids. However, similar research is lacking for juvenile primates. We examined relationships between social bonds and mean concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 44 free-ranging juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. We measured frequencies of affiliative behavior (grooming, play, approaches and proximity) with other same-sex, same-aged juveniles (peers) and the total number of affiliative peer relationships. We found a positive relationship between fGCMs and grooming frequencies. Females that spent more time in proximity to peers also had higher fGCMs. In contrast, among juveniles with more closely related peers, those with more affiliative peers or more frequent play bouts had lower fGCMs. However, strong peer bonds in most juveniles did not appear to be associated with reduced glucocorticoid levels. fGCMs were higher for females than males, but were unassociated with physical activity, aggression, or peer seeking tendencies. We propose that the establishment and navigation of some peer bonds at this life stage may involve increased metabolic demand.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81962-2 |
| spellingShingle | Katharine C. Burke Michael Heistermann James P. Higham Carol M. Berman Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques Scientific Reports |
| title | Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques |
| title_full | Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques |
| title_fullStr | Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques |
| title_short | Associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques |
| title_sort | associations between fecal glucocorticoid levels and social bonds vary with relatedness in juvenile rhesus macaques |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81962-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katharinecburke associationsbetweenfecalglucocorticoidlevelsandsocialbondsvarywithrelatednessinjuvenilerhesusmacaques AT michaelheistermann associationsbetweenfecalglucocorticoidlevelsandsocialbondsvarywithrelatednessinjuvenilerhesusmacaques AT jamesphigham associationsbetweenfecalglucocorticoidlevelsandsocialbondsvarywithrelatednessinjuvenilerhesusmacaques AT carolmberman associationsbetweenfecalglucocorticoidlevelsandsocialbondsvarywithrelatednessinjuvenilerhesusmacaques |