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The ecology of motherhood: the structuring of lactation costs by chacma baboons

  1. LOUISE BARRETT1,2,
  2. JO HALLIDAY1,3,
  3. S. PETER HENZI1,2

Article first published online: 5 JUN 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01105.x

Issue

Journal of Animal Ecology

Journal of Animal Ecology

Volume 75, Issue 4, pages 875–886, July 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

BARRETT, L., HALLIDAY, J. and HENZI, S. P. (2006), The ecology of motherhood: the structuring of lactation costs by chacma baboons. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75: 875–886. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01105.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa;

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancs, UK; and

  3. 3

    Animal Health and Welfare, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK

* Louise Barrett, Department of Psychology, Darwin Building, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE. E-mail: LBarrett1@uclan.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 JUN 2006
  2. Article first published online: 5 JUN 2006
  3. Received 16 October 2005; accepted 6 March 2006

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Keywords:

  • lactation;
  • Papio hamadryas ursinus;
  • seasonality;
  • time budget;
  • vigilance

Summary

  • 1
    Data from a long-term study of Papio hamadryas ursinus (L.) in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, were used to test the assumptions and predictions of Altmann's model of maternal time budgets.
  • 2
    Female baboons’ feeding time was below model predictions, and there was no evidence for a consistent increase in feeding time with infant age. In addition, female feeding time was not significantly higher than observed baseline feeding times for nonlactating females.
  • 3
    Female baboons reduced activity levels in the first few months post-partum, as reflected in significant increases in resting time, and there was some indication that females lost body mass over the course of lactation. When feeding demand was high, females sacrificed social time, and conserved resting time.
  • 4
    Females increased vigilance levels during the first 4 months of infant life and were more vigilant overall during lactation than when nonlactating. There was a negative relationship between feeding time and vigilance, but a positive relationship between resting time and vigilance.
  • 5
    Female baboons at De Hoop appear to cope with the energetic costs of lactation by reducing activity levels, although this cannot compensate completely for increased energetic costs. This may not be so much an ‘energy-sparing’ strategy as a response to threats presented by infanticidal males in this population. Females therefore trade-off feeding time against vigilance.
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