MIGRATION ALLIANCES AND COALITIONS AMONG ADULT MALE SOUTH-AMERICAN SQUIRREL-MONKEYS (SAIMIRI-SCIUREUS)

1. Male South American squirrel monkeys form groups whose composition remains stable over migrations between troops. These groups are called 'migration alliances'. 2. Members of migration alliances support one another against other males through coalitions in genital display bouts both during immigration and throughout the year. Male alliances do not function to overcome female dominance. 3. Seasonal reproduction in squirrel monkeys may influence male alliances by a) intensification of within-group competition during the mating season, and b) production of temporally and spatially fluctuating mating opportunities between groups.