Dominance Hierarchies and Matrilineal Dynamics in Rhesus Macaque Troops

Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), highly social primates, exhibit complex dominance hierarchies and matrilineal social structures that govern their troop dynamics. This article synthesizes secondary data from peer-reviewed studies to explore how these hierarchies regulate access to resources, mating opportunities, and social interactions, while matrilineal kinship fosters group cohesion and rank stability. Dominance hierarchies are linear, with rank determining fitness outcomes, particularly for females, who inherit status through matrilines. Males experience more fluid hierarchies due to dispersal and competition. Matrilineal dynamics, reinforced by grooming and coalitions, ensure the persistence of female rank across generations. Ecological factors, such as resource availability, and anthropogenic influences, like provisioning and habitat fragmentation, significantly shape these social systems. Genetic studies reveal heritable traits linked to dominance, while physiological data indicate higher stress in low-ranking individuals. Data tables summarize reproductive success, agonistic interactions, and environmental impacts, drawing from key studies on populations like Cayo Santiago and urban Delhi. This review highlights the interplay between dominance, kinship, and external pressures, offering insights into rhesus macaque social behaviour with implications for conservation, captive management, and biomedical research. By integrating behavioural, ecological, and genetic perspectives, the article underscores the adaptability and complexity of rhesus macaque social organization, emphasizing the need for continued research into urban populations and genetic correlates of dominance.

Keywords: Rhesus macaque, dominance hierarchy, matrilineal kinship, social behaviour, rank inheritance, ecological influences, anthropogenic impacts.