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Female Social Rank And Steroid Production In Semi-Free Ranging Lemur Catta On St. Catherines Island, Georgia, Tiffany Burgess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many mammalian species live in complex social groups that profoundly affect the behavior and ecology of their members. In ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) these groups are characterized by female dominance, where females have priority over males for food, grooming, and space. Among females there is also a linear dominance hierarchy. L. catta have a strong matrilineal social core due to females staying within their natal group and males dispersing at sexual maturity. Daughters “inherit” their mother’s social rank. However, it is not known if the matrilineal lines are maintained through learned dominant/aggressive behavior or inherited via genetically determined hormonal …