灵长动物行为与生态学的研究现状与进展(四):灵长动物的社会性

Status and advance on study of behavior and ecology in primates(Ⅳ): primate society

与大多数其他哺乳动物相比,灵长动物是社会性极强的动物。从组成群体的每个个体的角度看,结群生活至少有4个好处,即减少被捕食的风险,更容易获得食物,更容易找到配偶,能更好地看护和照顾后代。但每一种潜在好处都必须与可能付出的代价相平衡。对白天活动的灵长动物来说,减少被捕食的风险是选择群体生活方式的主要因素之一。在群体中生活的个体能获得更多的保护。任何个体生殖的成功都取决于它为其子女和自身获得足够食物的能力。决定灵长动物群体大小的最重要因素是食物资源的时空分布。

Compared to most other types of mammals, primates are extremely social animals. From the point of view of the individuals that make up primate groups, there are four potential advantages for group living： greater protection from predators, improved access to food, better access to mates and assistance in caring for offspring. Each potential advantage also must be balanced against the potential disadvantage of group living. Predator avoidance seems to be the major factor that selects for group living in diurnal primates. Individuals living in groups gain increased protection. The reproductive success of any individual depends ultimately on its ability to obtain enough food for itself and its offspring. The most important factor in determining the size of the groups in which primates live seems to be the distribution of food resources in time and space.