Variation in personality and fitness in wild female baboons

Robert M. Seyfarth · Joan B. Silk · Dorothy L. Cheney

123 citations0/0 files storedProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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Primate Behavior and Ecology Animal Behavior and Reproduction Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Abstract

Studies of personality in nonhuman primates have usually relied on assessments by humans and seldom considered the function of the resulting "trait" classifications. In contrast, we applied exploratory principal component analysis to seven behaviors among 45 wild female baboons over 7 y to determine whether the personality dimensions that emerged were associated with measures of reproductive success. We identified three relatively stable personality dimensions, each characterized by a distinct suite of behaviors that were not redundant with dominance rank or the availability of kin. Females scoring high on the "Nice" dimension were friendly to all females and often grunted to lower-ranking females to signal benign intent. "Aloof" females were aggressive, less friendly, and grunted primarily to higher-ranking females. "Loner" females were often alone, relatively unfriendly, and also grunted most often to higher-ranking females. Aloof and Loner females were rarely approached by others. Personality dimensions were correlated in different ways with three measures previously shown to be associated with fitness: stress levels and two behavioral indices reflecting the closeness of dyadic bonds formed by individuals. Females who scored high on Nice had high composite sociality indices (CSI) and stable partner preferences, whereas females who scored high on Aloof had lower CSI scores but significantly more stable partner preferences. Loner females had significantly lower CSI scores, less stable partner preferences, and significantly higher glucocorticoid levels. It remains to be determined which of the Nice or Aloof personality dimensions is more adaptive, or whether variation is maintained by contrasting effects on fitness.

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References

1974Observational Study of Behavior: Sampling Methods 2003Social Bonds of Female Baboons Enhance Infant Survival 2004Toward an Integrative Science of the Person 2010Strong and Consistent Social Bonds Enhance the Longevity of Female Baboons 2009The benefits of social capital: close social bonds among female baboons enhance offspring survival 2010Social Bonds Enhance Reproductive Success in Male Macaques 2007Baboon Metaphysics 2010Personality in nonhuman primates: a review and evaluation of past research

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