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Journal Article

Homophily in social and demographic traits predict association patterns in female western and mountain gorillas

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Young,  Christopher       
Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society;

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Robbins,  Martha M.       
Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Society;

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Young_Homophily_ProcRoySocLonB_2024.pdf
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Young_Homophily_ProcRoySocLonB_Suppl_2024.docx
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Citation

Young, C., & Robbins, M. M. (2024). Homophily in social and demographic traits predict association patterns in female western and mountain gorillas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2035): 20241956. doi:10.1098/rspb.2024.1956.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0010-49BE-7
Abstract
Affiliative relationships are a hallmark of social relationships in gregariousmammals, but what drives variation of association patterns when kinare absent remains unknown. Gorillas, where females may dispersemultiple times in their lives, provide an interesting counterpoint tofemale philopatric species to examine the factors influencing variationin association patterns. We examined demographic and social factorsthat may predict association patterns of female western (Gorilla gorillagorilla; Loango, Gabon) and mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei;Bwindi, Uganda). We looked at dyadic and individual strength scores ofsocial proximity (37 group-years). For individuals, high dominance rankincreased association scores while newly emigrated females had lowerscores than resident females. For dyads, higher mean dominance rankand both partners having a dependent infant increased association scores,whereas a partner being an immigrant decreased scores. Furthermore,time-matched analysis of birth and immigration events confirmed thetemporal nature of these associations. Overall, female gorilla associationpatterns show flexibility in strength based on real-time contingencies,namely social and demographic traits. Association patterns in species withfemale secondary dispersal may be governed by homophily, like that ofmodern humans. Understanding female gorilla social structure can enhanceour knowledge of the evolutionary origins of sociality.