Aggression in Captive Pigtail Monkey Groups: Effects of Provision of Cover

Abstract

To assess the influence of provision of “cover” on aggressive behavior in captive nonhuman primate groups, concrete cylinders were introduced into rooms in which six groups of pigtail monkeys resided. Basal incidence of aggression was measured prior to introduction of the cylinders and during their presence in the rooms. Four groups, which underwent little or no change in group composition during the study, exhibited substantially less aggression when cover was available than when it was not. Moderate and extreme changes in group composition occurred in two groups; these changes resulted in slight and dramatic increases in aggression, respectively, at the times when the changes occurred. Subjects frequently used the cylinders to avoid successfully the aggressive attacks of others. Cover of the sort provided by the concrete cylinders resulted in decreased aggression in stable groups but did not prevent aggression in groups which underwent moderate or extreme social change.