REPORT OF ANTH 455 BEHAVIORAL
OBSERVATION SERVICE LEARNING CLASS AT
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON
TO THE LOS ANGELES ZOO
Submitted by: Miguel Aguayo, Carol Gauthier, Adolfo
Hernandez, Royal Jenkins, Rachel Lipson, Monica Morales, Erin
Murphy, Janine Nguyen, Jaeda Snow, and Amanda Toth
May 26, 2017
, 1
Introduction
Affiliative behaviors among chimpanzees are actions that express affection between
group members, spanning age, gender, and social ranking (O’Neil, 2012). These behaviors create
affection between individuals and may include, but are not limited to, spatial proximity, touching
one another, and grooming (O’Neil, 2012). There are two types of grooming: allogrooming and
autogrooming (McFarland, 2014; Allaby, 2010). During allogrooming, one individual grooms
another; whereas, autogrooming occurs when individuals perform grooming on themselves
(McFarland, 2014; Allaby, 2010). Grooming as an expression of affiliative behavior is an
important feature of social and political nonhuman primate behavior (Dunbar, 1996).
From observing grooming behavior, social variables such as status, alliance, and kinship
can be determined (McGrew, 1998). The frequency with which an individual performs self-
grooming, or partakes in grooming with others, is correspondent to their place in the group
hierarchy (Kannigiesser et al., 2010). Their role and position in the group heavily relies on
affiliative behavior, and grooming is among the most significant (Kannigiesser et al., 2010).
Researchers have found that among nonhuman primates, those who have larger grooming
networks hold higher social standing in comparison to those who do not groom as frequently
(Kannigiesser et al., 2010). Males are found to groom at a higher rates when females are
experiencing seasonal sexual swelling (Russell, 2009). Grooming also serves as a mechanism to
establish coalitional partners that will assist during intergroup and intragroup aggression and
conflict (Koyama et al., 2006).
Across different theoretical perspectives, recent studies focusing on affiliative behavior
have utilized chimpanzee grooming as a variable to address a variety of research questions. In
one study, questions have been asked regarding the roles individuals play in the cohesiveness of
grooming networks using social network analysis (Kanngiesser, 2011). Others have asked how
the development of adolescent males is affected by their grooming behavior (Sherrow, 2001).
Female chimpanzee social dynamics have also been explored to determine how social dynamics
among female chimpanzees influence social structure (Wakefield, 2013).
Our focus is to assess the amount of time male chimpanzees spend in affiliative behavior,
and the sequence of approach and avoidance behavior that changes their behavioral state. The
team hypothesizes that differences in the time male chimpanzees male spend in affiliative
behavior will correlate with rank. We predict that as time spent grooming increases, rank
, 2
increases.
Methods
Observations were conducted on the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) population at the Los
Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens (LA Zoo, n.d.) in Los Angeles, California. The LA Zoo is
home to the largest troop of chimpanzees in the country, housing a total of 18 chimpanzees. The
chimpanzees have access to two-separate outdoor habitats and indoor sleeping quarters. Access
by individual chimpanzees to different areas can be managed by zoo personnel. The main habitat
is located on the ground level and includes vegetation, boulders, a stream, and climbing
opportunities. The secondary habitat, or exhibit area, is known as the penthouse and is situated
on top of the chimp’s indoor sleeping quarters. The penthouse is a large area with thick ropes
that hang from the ceiling and sides of the enclosure. There are also beams that connect from
each side that allow the chimps to sit or hang. Creating an exhibit that was close to their natural
environment was important to the LA Zoo (Coe, 1997). The zoo’s goal was to create a habitat
that was similar to that of a troop of chimpanzees in East Africa, allowing for the chimpanzees to
interact with one another, and towards their surroundings as they would in the wild (Coe, 1997).
There are daily occurrences in which large crowds gather outside the main enclosure for
Chimp Chat, which is a discussion led by a zoo docent, given to the public regarding various
aspects of chimpanzee life. During Chimp Chat, the chimpanzees are also thrown provisions,
such as vegetables and fruits. Chimpanzees are fed three times a day: at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and
again at 3:00pm. However, food is consistently found in the enclosure throughout the day. The
chimpanzees routinely receive preventative healthcare to ensure the well-being of the troop, as
well as, medical assistance which is administered to individuals with serious injuries. These
treatments can include, but are not limited to, surgery, amputation, and stitches. One
consequence of serious injury that affects our study is the unequal distribution of observation
minutes across males due to the removal of injured chimpanzees for a period of time. During our
study, Ben and Glenn could not be observed because they spent some time off exhibit. When an
individual is removed for an extended amount of time, zookeepers are required to reintroduce the
individual in a safe manner. It is essential for the chimpanzee to regain their coalitions among the
group to avoid additional injury. Therefore, the zookeepers will remove chimps that may be
confrontational to allow the reintroduced individual to reform relationships. Observers were
OBSERVATION SERVICE LEARNING CLASS AT
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON
TO THE LOS ANGELES ZOO
Submitted by: Miguel Aguayo, Carol Gauthier, Adolfo
Hernandez, Royal Jenkins, Rachel Lipson, Monica Morales, Erin
Murphy, Janine Nguyen, Jaeda Snow, and Amanda Toth
May 26, 2017
, 1
Introduction
Affiliative behaviors among chimpanzees are actions that express affection between
group members, spanning age, gender, and social ranking (O’Neil, 2012). These behaviors create
affection between individuals and may include, but are not limited to, spatial proximity, touching
one another, and grooming (O’Neil, 2012). There are two types of grooming: allogrooming and
autogrooming (McFarland, 2014; Allaby, 2010). During allogrooming, one individual grooms
another; whereas, autogrooming occurs when individuals perform grooming on themselves
(McFarland, 2014; Allaby, 2010). Grooming as an expression of affiliative behavior is an
important feature of social and political nonhuman primate behavior (Dunbar, 1996).
From observing grooming behavior, social variables such as status, alliance, and kinship
can be determined (McGrew, 1998). The frequency with which an individual performs self-
grooming, or partakes in grooming with others, is correspondent to their place in the group
hierarchy (Kannigiesser et al., 2010). Their role and position in the group heavily relies on
affiliative behavior, and grooming is among the most significant (Kannigiesser et al., 2010).
Researchers have found that among nonhuman primates, those who have larger grooming
networks hold higher social standing in comparison to those who do not groom as frequently
(Kannigiesser et al., 2010). Males are found to groom at a higher rates when females are
experiencing seasonal sexual swelling (Russell, 2009). Grooming also serves as a mechanism to
establish coalitional partners that will assist during intergroup and intragroup aggression and
conflict (Koyama et al., 2006).
Across different theoretical perspectives, recent studies focusing on affiliative behavior
have utilized chimpanzee grooming as a variable to address a variety of research questions. In
one study, questions have been asked regarding the roles individuals play in the cohesiveness of
grooming networks using social network analysis (Kanngiesser, 2011). Others have asked how
the development of adolescent males is affected by their grooming behavior (Sherrow, 2001).
Female chimpanzee social dynamics have also been explored to determine how social dynamics
among female chimpanzees influence social structure (Wakefield, 2013).
Our focus is to assess the amount of time male chimpanzees spend in affiliative behavior,
and the sequence of approach and avoidance behavior that changes their behavioral state. The
team hypothesizes that differences in the time male chimpanzees male spend in affiliative
behavior will correlate with rank. We predict that as time spent grooming increases, rank
, 2
increases.
Methods
Observations were conducted on the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) population at the Los
Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens (LA Zoo, n.d.) in Los Angeles, California. The LA Zoo is
home to the largest troop of chimpanzees in the country, housing a total of 18 chimpanzees. The
chimpanzees have access to two-separate outdoor habitats and indoor sleeping quarters. Access
by individual chimpanzees to different areas can be managed by zoo personnel. The main habitat
is located on the ground level and includes vegetation, boulders, a stream, and climbing
opportunities. The secondary habitat, or exhibit area, is known as the penthouse and is situated
on top of the chimp’s indoor sleeping quarters. The penthouse is a large area with thick ropes
that hang from the ceiling and sides of the enclosure. There are also beams that connect from
each side that allow the chimps to sit or hang. Creating an exhibit that was close to their natural
environment was important to the LA Zoo (Coe, 1997). The zoo’s goal was to create a habitat
that was similar to that of a troop of chimpanzees in East Africa, allowing for the chimpanzees to
interact with one another, and towards their surroundings as they would in the wild (Coe, 1997).
There are daily occurrences in which large crowds gather outside the main enclosure for
Chimp Chat, which is a discussion led by a zoo docent, given to the public regarding various
aspects of chimpanzee life. During Chimp Chat, the chimpanzees are also thrown provisions,
such as vegetables and fruits. Chimpanzees are fed three times a day: at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and
again at 3:00pm. However, food is consistently found in the enclosure throughout the day. The
chimpanzees routinely receive preventative healthcare to ensure the well-being of the troop, as
well as, medical assistance which is administered to individuals with serious injuries. These
treatments can include, but are not limited to, surgery, amputation, and stitches. One
consequence of serious injury that affects our study is the unequal distribution of observation
minutes across males due to the removal of injured chimpanzees for a period of time. During our
study, Ben and Glenn could not be observed because they spent some time off exhibit. When an
individual is removed for an extended amount of time, zookeepers are required to reintroduce the
individual in a safe manner. It is essential for the chimpanzee to regain their coalitions among the
group to avoid additional injury. Therefore, the zookeepers will remove chimps that may be
confrontational to allow the reintroduced individual to reform relationships. Observers were
