First Advisor

Natalie Vasey

Date of Award

Spring 6-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Anthropology and University Honors

Department

Anthropology

Language

English

Subjects

Varecia rubra, alloparenting, male care, primate neurophysiology, primate behavior

DOI

10.15760/honors.1703

Abstract

Nonhuman primates are known for their complex social structures that sometimes includes cooperative breeding strategies. In recent years there has been an increase in investigating alloparenting (infant care provided by an adult or subadult that is not a genetic parent) and male infant care, and how such behaviors contribute to the overall assistance to the extreme energetic investment and costs of the mother for the rearing of offspring. There is also debate to how male care has evolved in the primate clade, be it through the theory of kin selection or theory of mutualism. However, there is not enough research to date to make any concrete assumptions either way, but rather that they work in tandem. There is also a general question of the relationship between alloparenting behaviors and primate neuroanatomy. This investigation attempts to determine if Varecia rubra alloparental and male care helpers have any effect on the amount of the demands to the mother. There is focus exploring not only if male Varecia rubra contributes significantly, but also what sort of behaviors they exhibit and how much time is spent providing infant care. This preliminary study will provide a fraction of the first quantitative data of alloparenting and male care in Varecia rubra and will add to a growing index of nonhuman primate studies of male reproductive strategies and behavior.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43809

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