Brianne A Beisner
Biographic Data
| ID | 4774788 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Brianne A Beisner |
| GIVEN NAMES | Brianne A |
| FAMILY NAME | Beisner |
| SIGNATURE | BEISNER B A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of California, Davis |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9440-4521 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 22 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
A Collaborative, Multi‐Institutional Growth Standard for Dam‐Reared Infant Rhesus and Pigtail Macaques ( Macaca mulatta and Macaca nemestrina ) in Research Settings
A multicenter study was undertaken to generate new weight‐for‐age growth standards to monitor the growth of infant rhesus and pigtail macaques in research breeding colonies. Previously, single institutions have developed reference growth curves, under the assumption of linear growth, for infants raised in certain settings with a limited scope of benefit to outside institutions. Weight and health records from seven research institutions across the…
Food Distribution, But Not Market Forces, Predict Behavioral Social Tolerance in Rhesus Macaques
Social inequality in primates is marked by dominance‐based resource monopolization. Yet, high‐ranking individuals sometimes yield to lower‐ranking individuals to promote group stability, indicative of behavioral social tolerance. Social tolerance is dynamic and is shaped by resource availability, group structure, hierarchy steepness and kinship. Increasing social tolerance around resource access may promote group stability and improve individual …
The impact of housing on birth outcomes in breeding macaque groups across multiple research centers
Demand for nonhuman primates in research has increased over the past several years, while nonhuman primate supply remains a challenge in the United States. Global nonhuman primate supply issues make it increasingly important to maximize domestic colony production. To explore how housing conditions across primate breeding colonies impact infant survival and animal production more broadly, we collected medical records from 7959 rhesus macaques ( Ma…
Factors influencing the success of male introductions into groups of female rhesus macaques: Introduction technique, male characteristics and female behavior
In captive populations of rhesus macaques, novel adult males are commonly introduced to female groups every few years to prevent inbreeding, which mimics male dispersal in wild macaque populations. However, introducing adult males is challenging because macaques are aggressive to newcomers, which can result in serious injuries. Efforts to reduce trauma risk during the introduction process and increase the probability of success are needed. Here w…
Infant Survival Among Free-Living Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata) in South India
Female reproductive success depends to a large extent on infants’ ability to survive to maturity. While most studies of female reproductive success have focused on the effects of individuals’ sociodemographic factors (e.g., age/parity, dominance rank) on offspring survival among wild primates living in less disturbed habitats, little research has focused on offspring survival in urban or periurban animals. Here we investigated sociodemographic an…
Individuals in urban dwelling primate species face unequal benefits associated with living in an anthropogenic environment
Sex differences in the impact of social status on hair cortisol concentrations in rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta )
Social status impacts stress in primates, but the direction of the effect differs depending on species, social style, and group stability. This complicates our ability to identify broadly applicable principles for understanding how social status impacts health and fitness. One reason for this is the fact that social status is often measured as linear dominance rank, yet social status is more complex than simply high or low rank. Additionally, mos…
Impact of anthropogenic factors on affiliative behaviors among bonnet macaques
OBJECTIVES: In primates, allogrooming and other affiliative behaviors confer many benefits and may be influenced by many socioecological factors. Of these, the impact of anthropogenic factors remain relatively understudied. Here we ask whether interactions with humans decreased macaques' affiliative behaviors by imposing time-constraints, or increased these behaviors on account of more free-/available-time due to macaques' consumption of high-ene…
Increased produce enrichment reduces trauma in socially‐housed captive rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
Due to primate adaptations for sociality, captive rhesus macaques have optimal welfare and utility as a biomedical model when they can be maintained in outdoor social groups. As a despotic species; however, aggression can result in costly injuries and may result in temporary or permanent removal of specific individuals from social housing. Enrichment items, such as toys, climbing structures, and foraging material, are employed to keep captive ani…
Rates of human–macaque interactions affect grooming behavior among urban‐dwelling rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
OBJECTIVES: The impact of anthropogenic environmental changes may impose strong pressures on the behavioral flexibility of free-ranging animals. Here, we examine whether rates of interactions with humans had both a direct and indirect influence on the duration and distribution of social grooming in commensal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected in two locations in the city of Shimla in northern India: an ur…
The influence of phylogeny, social style, and sociodemographic factors on macaque social network structure
Among nonhuman primates, the evolutionary underpinnings of variation in social structure remain debated, with both ancestral relationships and adaptation to current conditions hypothesized to play determining roles. Here we assess whether interspecific variation in higher-order aspects of female macaque (genus: Macaca) dominance and grooming social structure show phylogenetic signals, that is, greater similarity among more closely-related species…
Predictors of insubordinate aggression among captive female rhesus macaques
OBJECTIVES: Cercopithicine primates tend to have nepotistic hierarchies characterized by predictable, kinship-based dominance. Although aggression is typically directed down the hierarchy, insubordinate aggression does occur. Insubordination is important to understand because it can precipitate social upheaval and undermine group stability; however, the factors underlying it are not well understood. We test whether key social and demographic vari…
Prevalence of enteric bacterial parasites with respect to anthropogenic factors among commensal rhesus macaques in Dehradun, India
Social power, conflict policing, and the role of subordination signals in rhesus macaque society
OBJECTIVES: Policing is a conflict-limiting mechanism observed in many primate species. It is thought to require a skewed distribution of social power for some individuals to have sufficiently high social power to stop others' fights, yet social power has not been examined in most species with policing behavior. We examined networks of subordination signals as a source of social power that permits policing behavior in rhesus macaques. MATERIALS A…
Human–wildlife conflict: Proximate predictors of aggression between humans and rhesus macaques in I ndia
Macaques live in close contact with humans across South and Southeast Asia, and direct interaction is frequent. Aggressive contact is a concern in many locations, particularly among populations of rhesus and longtail macaques that co‐inhabit urbanized cities and towns with humans. We investigated the proximate factors influencing the occurrence of macaque aggression toward humans as well as human aggression toward macaques to determine the extent…
Signaling context modulates social function of silent bared‐teeth displays in rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
The signaling context has been found to change the meaning of the silent bared-teeth display (SBT) in pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) such that the SBT in apparently peaceful contexts communicates subordination, a long-term pattern of behavior, whereas in conflict contexts it communicates immediate submission (PNAS, 104: 1581-1586). However, the context dependent nature of the SBT has not yet been explored in other species. We investigated S…
Effects of natal male alliances on aggression and power dynamics in rhesus macaques
In the wild, male rhesus macaques disperse at sexual maturity. In captivity, however, males cannot disperse from their natal groups. Thus, the presence of natal males in captive rhesus social groups is unnatural and has the potential to negatively influence group dynamics and stability. A primary difference between natal males and non‐natal (immigrant) males is that natal males have the opportunity to form long‐term alliances with their maternal …
Factors affecting aggression among females in captive groups of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
Captive groups of primates often exhibit higher rates of aggression than wild, free‐ranging groups. It is important to determine which factors influence aggression in captivity because aggression, particularly intense aggression, can be harmful to animal health and well‐being. In this study, we investigated the effect of ground substrate as well as season, rank, age, and group size on rates of agonistic interactions per female in seven captive gr…
Ground substrate affects activity budgets and hair loss in outdoor captive groups of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
How the captive environment influences the behavior of animals is relevant to the well‐being of captive animals. Captivity diverges from the natural environment in many ways, and one goal of enrichment practices is to encourage species‐typical behavior in these unnatural environments. This study investigated the influence of grass vs. gravel substrate on activity budgets and degree of hair loss in seven groups of captive rhesus macaques housed in…
Human–wildlife conflict: Proximate predictors of aggression between humans and rhesus macaques in I ndia
Macaques live in close contact with humans across South and Southeast Asia, and direct interaction is frequent. Aggressive contact is a concern in many locations, particularly among populations of rhesus and longtail macaques that co‐inhabit urbanized cities and towns with humans. We investigated the proximate factors influencing the occurrence of macaque aggression toward humans as well as human aggression toward macaques to determine the extent…
Rates of human–macaque interactions affect grooming behavior among urban‐dwelling rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
OBJECTIVES: The impact of anthropogenic environmental changes may impose strong pressures on the behavioral flexibility of free-ranging animals. Here, we examine whether rates of interactions with humans had both a direct and indirect influence on the duration and distribution of social grooming in commensal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected in two locations in the city of Shimla in northern India: an ur…
Impact of anthropogenic factors on affiliative behaviors among bonnet macaques
OBJECTIVES: In primates, allogrooming and other affiliative behaviors confer many benefits and may be influenced by many socioecological factors. Of these, the impact of anthropogenic factors remain relatively understudied. Here we ask whether interactions with humans decreased macaques' affiliative behaviors by imposing time-constraints, or increased these behaviors on account of more free-/available-time due to macaques' consumption of high-ene…
Social power, conflict policing, and the role of subordination signals in rhesus macaque society
OBJECTIVES: Policing is a conflict-limiting mechanism observed in many primate species. It is thought to require a skewed distribution of social power for some individuals to have sufficiently high social power to stop others' fights, yet social power has not been examined in most species with policing behavior. We examined networks of subordination signals as a source of social power that permits policing behavior in rhesus macaques. MATERIALS A…
Infant Survival Among Free-Living Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata) in South India
Female reproductive success depends to a large extent on infants’ ability to survive to maturity. While most studies of female reproductive success have focused on the effects of individuals’ sociodemographic factors (e.g., age/parity, dominance rank) on offspring survival among wild primates living in less disturbed habitats, little research has focused on offspring survival in urban or periurban animals. Here we investigated sociodemographic an…
Ground substrate affects activity budgets and hair loss in outdoor captive groups of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
How the captive environment influences the behavior of animals is relevant to the well‐being of captive animals. Captivity diverges from the natural environment in many ways, and one goal of enrichment practices is to encourage species‐typical behavior in these unnatural environments. This study investigated the influence of grass vs. gravel substrate on activity budgets and degree of hair loss in seven groups of captive rhesus macaques housed in…
Effects of natal male alliances on aggression and power dynamics in rhesus macaques
In the wild, male rhesus macaques disperse at sexual maturity. In captivity, however, males cannot disperse from their natal groups. Thus, the presence of natal males in captive rhesus social groups is unnatural and has the potential to negatively influence group dynamics and stability. A primary difference between natal males and non‐natal (immigrant) males is that natal males have the opportunity to form long‐term alliances with their maternal …
Factors affecting aggression among females in captive groups of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
Captive groups of primates often exhibit higher rates of aggression than wild, free‐ranging groups. It is important to determine which factors influence aggression in captivity because aggression, particularly intense aggression, can be harmful to animal health and well‐being. In this study, we investigated the effect of ground substrate as well as season, rank, age, and group size on rates of agonistic interactions per female in seven captive gr…
Signaling context modulates social function of silent bared‐teeth displays in rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
The signaling context has been found to change the meaning of the silent bared-teeth display (SBT) in pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) such that the SBT in apparently peaceful contexts communicates subordination, a long-term pattern of behavior, whereas in conflict contexts it communicates immediate submission (PNAS, 104: 1581-1586). However, the context dependent nature of the SBT has not yet been explored in other species. We investigated S…
Human–wildlife conflict: Proximate predictors of aggression between humans and rhesus macaques in I ndia
Macaques live in close contact with humans across South and Southeast Asia, and direct interaction is frequent. Aggressive contact is a concern in many locations, particularly among populations of rhesus and longtail macaques that co‐inhabit urbanized cities and towns with humans. We investigated the proximate factors influencing the occurrence of macaque aggression toward humans as well as human aggression toward macaques to determine the extent…
Prevalence of enteric bacterial parasites with respect to anthropogenic factors among commensal rhesus macaques in Dehradun, India
Social power, conflict policing, and the role of subordination signals in rhesus macaque society
OBJECTIVES: Policing is a conflict-limiting mechanism observed in many primate species. It is thought to require a skewed distribution of social power for some individuals to have sufficiently high social power to stop others' fights, yet social power has not been examined in most species with policing behavior. We examined networks of subordination signals as a source of social power that permits policing behavior in rhesus macaques. MATERIALS A…
Predictors of insubordinate aggression among captive female rhesus macaques
OBJECTIVES: Cercopithicine primates tend to have nepotistic hierarchies characterized by predictable, kinship-based dominance. Although aggression is typically directed down the hierarchy, insubordinate aggression does occur. Insubordination is important to understand because it can precipitate social upheaval and undermine group stability; however, the factors underlying it are not well understood. We test whether key social and demographic vari…
The influence of phylogeny, social style, and sociodemographic factors on macaque social network structure
Among nonhuman primates, the evolutionary underpinnings of variation in social structure remain debated, with both ancestral relationships and adaptation to current conditions hypothesized to play determining roles. Here we assess whether interspecific variation in higher-order aspects of female macaque (genus: Macaca) dominance and grooming social structure show phylogenetic signals, that is, greater similarity among more closely-related species…
Increased produce enrichment reduces trauma in socially‐housed captive rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
Due to primate adaptations for sociality, captive rhesus macaques have optimal welfare and utility as a biomedical model when they can be maintained in outdoor social groups. As a despotic species; however, aggression can result in costly injuries and may result in temporary or permanent removal of specific individuals from social housing. Enrichment items, such as toys, climbing structures, and foraging material, are employed to keep captive ani…
Rates of human–macaque interactions affect grooming behavior among urban‐dwelling rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )
OBJECTIVES: The impact of anthropogenic environmental changes may impose strong pressures on the behavioral flexibility of free-ranging animals. Here, we examine whether rates of interactions with humans had both a direct and indirect influence on the duration and distribution of social grooming in commensal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected in two locations in the city of Shimla in northern India: an ur…
Individuals in urban dwelling primate species face unequal benefits associated with living in an anthropogenic environment
Sex differences in the impact of social status on hair cortisol concentrations in rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta )
Social status impacts stress in primates, but the direction of the effect differs depending on species, social style, and group stability. This complicates our ability to identify broadly applicable principles for understanding how social status impacts health and fitness. One reason for this is the fact that social status is often measured as linear dominance rank, yet social status is more complex than simply high or low rank. Additionally, mos…
Impact of anthropogenic factors on affiliative behaviors among bonnet macaques
OBJECTIVES: In primates, allogrooming and other affiliative behaviors confer many benefits and may be influenced by many socioecological factors. Of these, the impact of anthropogenic factors remain relatively understudied. Here we ask whether interactions with humans decreased macaques' affiliative behaviors by imposing time-constraints, or increased these behaviors on account of more free-/available-time due to macaques' consumption of high-ene…
Factors influencing the success of male introductions into groups of female rhesus macaques: Introduction technique, male characteristics and female behavior
In captive populations of rhesus macaques, novel adult males are commonly introduced to female groups every few years to prevent inbreeding, which mimics male dispersal in wild macaque populations. However, introducing adult males is challenging because macaques are aggressive to newcomers, which can result in serious injuries. Efforts to reduce trauma risk during the introduction process and increase the probability of success are needed. Here w…
Infant Survival Among Free-Living Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata) in South India
Female reproductive success depends to a large extent on infants’ ability to survive to maturity. While most studies of female reproductive success have focused on the effects of individuals’ sociodemographic factors (e.g., age/parity, dominance rank) on offspring survival among wild primates living in less disturbed habitats, little research has focused on offspring survival in urban or periurban animals. Here we investigated sociodemographic an…
The impact of housing on birth outcomes in breeding macaque groups across multiple research centers
Demand for nonhuman primates in research has increased over the past several years, while nonhuman primate supply remains a challenge in the United States. Global nonhuman primate supply issues make it increasingly important to maximize domestic colony production. To explore how housing conditions across primate breeding colonies impact infant survival and animal production more broadly, we collected medical records from 7959 rhesus macaques ( Ma…
Food Distribution, But Not Market Forces, Predict Behavioral Social Tolerance in Rhesus Macaques
Social inequality in primates is marked by dominance‐based resource monopolization. Yet, high‐ranking individuals sometimes yield to lower‐ranking individuals to promote group stability, indicative of behavioral social tolerance. Social tolerance is dynamic and is shaped by resource availability, group structure, hierarchy steepness and kinship. Increasing social tolerance around resource access may promote group stability and improve individual …
A Collaborative, Multi‐Institutional Growth Standard for Dam‐Reared Infant Rhesus and Pigtail Macaques ( Macaca mulatta and Macaca nemestrina ) in Research Settings
A multicenter study was undertaken to generate new weight‐for‐age growth standards to monitor the growth of infant rhesus and pigtail macaques in research breeding colonies. Previously, single institutions have developed reference growth curves, under the assumption of linear growth, for infants raised in certain settings with a limited scope of benefit to outside institutions. Weight and health records from seven research institutions across the…
Primate Behavior and Ecology (19 works) · Biology (17 works) · Macaque (11 works) · Psychology (11 works) · Rhesus macaque (11 works) · Ecology (9 works) · Primate (9 works) · Aggression (8 works) · Demography (8 works) · Animal Behavior and Reproduction (7 works)