INTRODUCTION AND INTEGRATION OF STRANGERS INTO CAPTIVE GROUPS OF TUFTED CAPUCHINS (CEBUS-APELLA)

We introduced two to four unfamiliar animals into three established gr oups (N = 6-9 per group) of tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). We presen t findings on the behavioral consequences of introductions as a functi on of age, sex, and residency status and long-term consequences for he alth and reproduction. No morbidity from aggression occurred at the ti me of introductions or during several months following and reproductio n was not compromised. Activity budgets and patterns of social spacing and interaction were little changed following the introductions excep t for increases in vigilance behavior, especially by newly introduced adult females. Adult females exhibited the strongest and longest-lasti ng response to changes in group composition. The results indicate that in this species (1) introductions of adult females can be carried out with acceptable risk to the newcomers provided that careful monitorin g occurs, so that the onset of severe aggression instigated by residen t females toward new females can be avoided, (2) juveniles can be intr oduced with minimal risk, and (3) adult males can be introduced into g roups lacking resident adult males with minimal risk. Capuchins differ in important ways from the better-studied Old World monkeys in their response to introductions of strangers. The differences are instructiv e with regard to processes supporting species-typical social structure , which is less overtly hierarchical in capuchins than in macaques.