The escalation of conflicts may reduce the benefits of group living. To reduce such risks, social species have developed mechanisms to repair the damage caused by aggression (post-conflict strategies). Affiliation between former opponents of a conflict (reconciliation) and triadic affiliation (defined as a friendly gesture provided by a bystander to the victim) can function as post-conflict strategies. Triadic contacts spontaneously offered to the victim by a bystander seem to lower victims’ distress (measured by self-directed behaviours, e.g. scratching). This phenomenon has been found in hominoids, monkeys and in some non-primate mammals, but it has never been described in lemurs. Here, for the first time, we investigated the post-conflict strategies used by Lemur catta by analysing data collected in the wild (383.5 h of observation; Berenty Reserve, Madagascar) and in captivity (1,138 h of observation; Pistoia Zoo, Italy). The data analysis revealed the presence of unsolicited post-conflict triadic affiliation in both settings, but failed to reveal solicited affiliation. Our analyses also showed that whenever social conditions do not favour reconciliation, unsolicited triadic contacts can substitute for it, thus lowering the risk of further aggression. The anxiety levels experienced by the victims after an aggressive event and in the absence of any kind of post-conflict affiliation did not vary compared to controls. Therefore, triadic spontaneous affiliation does not have a key role in buffering distress after conflicts. GLMM analyses revealed that the tendency of a bystander to approach and interact with a victim was affected by the sex of the aggressor. When the previous aggressor was a female, the probability of spontaneous triadic post-conflict affiliation was higher. This is an interesting result for a despotic species characterized by a strict dominance hierarchy led by females, which frequently reiterate aggression, not only towards the previous victim, but also towards other group members.

Triadic post-conflict behaviour in wild and captive ring-tailed lemurs

PALAGI, ELISABETTA;
2017-01-01

Abstract

The escalation of conflicts may reduce the benefits of group living. To reduce such risks, social species have developed mechanisms to repair the damage caused by aggression (post-conflict strategies). Affiliation between former opponents of a conflict (reconciliation) and triadic affiliation (defined as a friendly gesture provided by a bystander to the victim) can function as post-conflict strategies. Triadic contacts spontaneously offered to the victim by a bystander seem to lower victims’ distress (measured by self-directed behaviours, e.g. scratching). This phenomenon has been found in hominoids, monkeys and in some non-primate mammals, but it has never been described in lemurs. Here, for the first time, we investigated the post-conflict strategies used by Lemur catta by analysing data collected in the wild (383.5 h of observation; Berenty Reserve, Madagascar) and in captivity (1,138 h of observation; Pistoia Zoo, Italy). The data analysis revealed the presence of unsolicited post-conflict triadic affiliation in both settings, but failed to reveal solicited affiliation. Our analyses also showed that whenever social conditions do not favour reconciliation, unsolicited triadic contacts can substitute for it, thus lowering the risk of further aggression. The anxiety levels experienced by the victims after an aggressive event and in the absence of any kind of post-conflict affiliation did not vary compared to controls. Therefore, triadic spontaneous affiliation does not have a key role in buffering distress after conflicts. GLMM analyses revealed that the tendency of a bystander to approach and interact with a victim was affected by the sex of the aggressor. When the previous aggressor was a female, the probability of spontaneous triadic post-conflict affiliation was higher. This is an interesting result for a despotic species characterized by a strict dominance hierarchy led by females, which frequently reiterate aggression, not only towards the previous victim, but also towards other group members.
2017
https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/479129
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/873526
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact