Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite relates to social rank in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, L. L.; Huettmann, F.; Brown, J. L.; Liu, S. Q.; Wang, W. X.; Yang, J. Y.; Hu, D. F.
• Is Part Of: Italian journal of zoology. Volume 83:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) -- fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) -- dominance rank and stress -- machine learning and data mining -- open access; Zoology -- Periodicals; 590
• DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1081707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1125-0003

Abstract

Abstract: Studies suggest there is a connection between adrenal cortisol production and social rank in many non-human primates. Behavioral observations have confirmed that Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus roxellana ) have obvious social ranks. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations as an indicator of social stress and dominance rank in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys. Fecal samples were collected about every 5 days for 1 year from 10 Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (> 7 years old; n = 5 males, 5 females), and analysed for FGM with a corticosterone radioimmunoassay using machine learning and open access data. Results showed that: (1) yearly mean FGM levels were negatively correlated with individual animal behavioral social rank in both males and females; (2) we divided the whole year into warm and cold seasons (seasonally) and breeding and nonbreeding seasons physiologically. Except for cold seasons, FGM levels have a negative correlation with behavioral social ranks in males and females; (3) female rank does not clearly relate to FGM levels; (4) social ranks of snub-nosed monkeys are more collaborative traits than aggressive ones. Our findings have important implications for understanding the different physiological consequences of dominant and subordinate social status on Sichuan snub-nosed monkey societies, and it quantifies how physiological stress differs during seasons and phases, and by individuals.