FACIAL AND SEXUAL SKIN COLOR COMPONENTS CORRELATE WITH BODY MEASURES AND MEASURES OF IMMUNE FUNCTION IN FREE-RANGING JUVENILE FEMALE RHESUS MACAQUES (MACACA MULATTA). |
M. S. Gerald1,2; H. Lyons1,2; K. M. Treier1,3 and K. L. Robbins3
1Cayo Santiago, Caribbean Primate Research Center, CPRC, Cayo Santiago, PO BOX 906, Punta Santiago, PR, 00741, USA, 2University of Puerto Rico, Department of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus 00936-5067 , 3National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Child Health and Development, Laboratory of Comparative Ethology |
 |
| A recent investigation found relationships between facial color components (FCC), sexual skin color components (SSCC) and social behavior in adult female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). The purpose of our investigation was, first, to determine when individual color differences emerge and secondly, to evaluate relationships between FCC and SSCC and predictors of fertility, such as morphometric measures, and complete blood counts, as estimates of immune function. Subjects were 19, 2000 born, free-ranging female rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago. Color components were quantified digitally via the RGB Method, which measures the three color channels: red, green, and blue, in addition to hue, value and chroma. We found that individual differences in both FCC and SSCC appear prior to adulthood. Most FCC were significantly correlated with ulna length and skinfold measures of the scapula, and FCC saturation was inversely correlated with bicep circumference (r=-.580, p=.009) and skinfold measures of the lower abdomen (r=-.580, p=.009). SSCC hue was correlated with ulna length (r=.510, p=.026), abdominal (r=.462, p=.046) and chest circumferences (r=.466, p=.044) as well as lower abdominal skinfold measures (r=.590, p=.008). Most FCC were positively related to leukocyte counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes, thereby revealing the mounting of an immune response. The SSCC saturation was inversely related to lymphocyte count (r=-.467, p=.044). These preliminary results suggest that individual differences in female coloration can be associated with different fitness consequences. |
|
|
