conducted by Gottfried Hohmann (Last update: 27-11-2008)
Bonobos show a suite of traits that are unusual for non-human primates in general and separate them from their closest relative, the common chimpanzee. In the absence of close kinship, adult females associate, affiliate and cooperate.
Males develop long-lasting ties to their mothers and, in striving for social status, depend on support
from their mothers. In spite of close kinship, social relations between male group members are neutral
and coalitions are absent. Although sexual-dimorphism in body mass and canine size is male biased,
females and males are equally dominant. Some of these traits are seen as a result of low food competition
due to favourable patterns of resource distribution; other traits, such as the lack of male bonding,
probably require different explanations.
In light of these fascinating behavioural patterns, the central question of the research of our group
is to identify the forces that shape bonobo behaviour. An important component of our research is to
incorporate ecological variation. Thus, following eight years of field research at the site of Lomako,
we established a new study site at LuiKotal, located in the southern sector of Salonga National Park,
Democratic Republic of Congo. Unlike other long-term field sites, LuiKotal is characterized by a mosaic
of lowland forest and patches of grassland. Together with a more pronounced seasonality in climate,
the site therefore offers new perspectives of the ecology of bonobos.
Bonobos show a suite of traits that are unusual for non-human primates in general and separate them from their closest relative, the common chimpanzee. In the absence of close kinship, adult females associate, affiliate and cooperate.
Males develop long-lasting ties to their mothers and, in striving for social status, depend on support
from their mothers. In spite of close kinship, social relations between male group members are neutral
and coalitions are absent. Although sexual-dimorphism in body mass and canine size is male biased,
females and males are equally dominant. Some of these traits are seen as a result of low food competition
due to favourable patterns of resource distribution; other traits, such as the lack of male bonding,
probably require different explanations. 
