基于社会网络分析技术对猕猴社会结构的量化研究

Knowledge of social structure is the basis of animal behavioral ecology studies, and is critical important for understanding the survival and adaptation of study animals in various living environments. Among primates, rhesus macaque, with the biggest population and largest distribution area, is the most successful and adaptive species. In the past, studies on macaque social structure have provided a complementary perspective on primate studies and proposed several hypothesis to explain the evolutionary background of primate social systems. Previous studies however largely confined to observation of captive or transplanted populations, and provided little understanding on wild populations. Our study subject, the rhesus macaques at Nanwan Nature Reserve in Hainan Island (E110o, N18o23'), is the southernmost distribution of Chinese rhesus populations. In the previous studies, we have successfully habituated six wild groups with individual identification for all adult members, and have conducted studies on population dynamics, life tables, activity budget, habitat characteristics of the population. Based on previous preparations, we plan to make a further approach on detailed studies of their social system with application of Social Network Analysis (SNA). The first goal of this project is to understand the social system from levels of individual role, sub-group structure and group social structure of the study populations. We will extend studies of macaque social structure from captive populations to wild populations and establish a comparative framework for evaluation of social structure in macaques. The second goal is to understand evolutionary background of macaque societies. We will collect ecological data, e.g. food distribution, habitat environment, to discuss behavioral adaptation and social diversity in macaques. This proposed project will be the first approach on social network of wild rhesus macaques. The results will help test the social-ecology hypothesis, covariation hypothesis and reveal evolutionary mechanism of macaque society. The resulting database from the research proposed here should also contribute to our understanding of diversity in primate societies.

社会结构是动物行为生态学的基础研究课题，也是认识一个物种生存状态及其在复杂环境中进化过程的基本途径。猕猴是种群数量最多、分布最广和适应能力最强的灵长类动物。它们具有怎样的社会结构，如何量化分析其特点和适应性意义，是灵长类学者关心的热点科学问题。然而以往的研究主要局限于对饲养种群的观察，对野生种群的研究较少。本项目在掌握了海南南湾野生猕猴的组成档案、种群动态及识别群内个体的基础上，拟引入社会网络分析技术（SNA），配合GPS项圈跟踪和遗传学亲缘谱系鉴定方法，首次建立野生猕猴的社会网络多维模型，量化个体间、派系间和群间等不同层次的社会结构，分析海南猕猴的社会结构特点，从系统进化、生态因素和社会因素等角度综合理解猕猴社会的进化背景和适应意义，完善灵长类社会生态学理论。通过推广SNA技术在灵长类研究中的跨学科应用，改善国际相关研究主要局限于对饲养种群观察的现状，开拓动物行为生态学的研究领域。