Interrelationship among spatial cohesion, aggression rate, counter-aggression and female dominance in three lemur species

Abstract How social and ecological factors are associated with variation in dominance style across species of animals has been studied frequently, but the underlying processes often not addressed. Theoretical research indicates that stronger spatial cohesion among individuals a group causes higher frequency fighting and, thus, through self-reinforcing effects winning losing fights, differentiation hierarchy females over more males. Our aim present paper is to study whether same interrelationship may underlie differences three lemur differ their degree despotism: Lemur catta , Propithecus verreauxi Eulemur rufifrons . We investigated agonistic interactions based on 2752 h observational data 20 wild groups these species. determined using proportion counter-aggression, lower indicating despotic style. found rate aggression, despotism The results our emphasise general importance determining Significance statement studies have shown configuration influences In an agent-based model, DomWorld, guided by simple rules grouping emergent patterns behaviour switch between resembling those or egalitarian primates depending groups. Yet this link seldom empirically. We, therefore, examine relevance lemur. confirm predictions from model show frequent female light this, we urge future animal include measures cohesion.