Singh, M., Singh, M., Sharma, A. K., & Krishna B. A. (2003). Methodological considerations in measurement of dominance in primates. CURRENT SCIENCE, 84(5), 709–713.
Abstract: The strength of dominance hierarchy in a group of
animals needs to be quantitatively measured since it
influences many other aspects of social interactions.
This article discusses three attempts made by previous
researchers to measure the strength of hierarchy. We
propose a method which attempts to rectify the lacunae
in the previous attempts. Data are used from a
group of Japanese macaques housed in a colony. A
method to calculate strength of hierarchy has been
illustrated and a procedure has been suggested to
normalize the dominance scores in order to place the
ranks of individuals on an interval scale.
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Vidya, T. N. C., & Sukumar, R. (2005). Social and reproductive behaviour in elephants. Curr Sci, 89(7), 1200–1207.
Abstract: We present a review of studies on elephant social and reproductive behaviour. While the social organization of the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) has been intensively studied,that of the African forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) are poorly understood. Noninvasive molecular methods are useful in combination with behavioural data in understanding social organization and dispersal strategies. The ecological determinants of social organization, and the importance of matriarchal leadership to social groups, and relative importance of different forms of communication under various ecological conditions remain interesting topics that await investigation. Reproductive behaviour also has been examined in detail only in the African savannah elephant, although rigorous chemical analyses continue to be carried out using captive elephants of both species. Improved laboratory techniques may enable future work on reproductive signalling in free-ranging elephants, allowing for comprehensive studies of male-male interactions and mate choice by females.
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