title: Satellite telemetry and social modeling offer new insights into the origin of primate multilevel societies.
abstract: Multilevel societies (MLS), in which polygynous reproductive units are nested in a larger social matrix, represent a highly complex social system documented only in a small number of mammalian species. Using long-term behavioural data, satellite telemetry and social network analysis, we present a new framework for understanding the function and social dynamics of the golden snub-nosed monkey MLS. Here we show that several one-male units form a cohesive breeding band that associates with one or more all-male units to form a herd. Herds seasonally aggregate and exchange members, thus facilitating gene flow and inbreeding avoidance. This MLS evolved from the aggregation of independent one-male, multifemale units that characterize ancestral Asian colobines; the evolutionary pathway leading to this MLS contrasts with that proposed for African papionins, which appear to have undergone internal fissioning of multimale-multifemale groups. The results suggest that both environmental and phylogenetic factors are important in the evolution of a primate MLS.
authors.affiliation: 1] College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China [2] Anthropology Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Anthropology Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Garber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Resource, Massey University, Albany 0632, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Pang
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
authors.forename: Song-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: 1] College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China [2] Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1] College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China [2] Institute of Zoology, Shaanxi Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Guo
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D051456:Gene Flow; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005843:Geography; D000882:Haplorhini; D007178:Inbreeding; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D011323:Primates / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D017215:Satellite Communications; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D013045:Species Specificity; D013686:Telemetry
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers