Of these strong associations, the majority (68%) were between same-sex pairs. Over all periods, male-male pairs (774 total associations) accounted for twice as many strong CoAs as female-female pairs (373 total associations). The percentage of same sex vs. mixed sex associations PD0325901 order fluctuated closely around 50/50. The majority of associations (61%–65%) were between individuals of different age classes. Mantel

tests revealed that for all pooled periods, CoAs within sex class were greater than between sex class (P < 0.003). Table 2 reveals that this is due to the high level male-male associations, as female-female and mixed sex associations were similar in strength and below the overall average. Same age class associations were significantly stronger than mixed age class associations (Table 2) for all years even though the majority of associations involved mixed age classes (Table 1). This again is due to the high level of male-male associations that were significantly stronger within age class than between. There was no significant difference due to age class in female-female associations (Table 2). Within sex class CoA were significantly stronger than between sex class for fused individuals in all years, for mottled individuals in three of four pooled periods and for speckled individuals only two out of

four pooled periods; click here again this is attributed to the high level of male-male associations in each age class with significant Mantel results (Table 2). The percentage of observed (CoA >0) male-male associations between individuals ranged between 72.8%–86.9%, depending on the pooled period.

The majority of the strong CoAs were male-male associations. Figure 2 shows sociograms for males with CoA of 0.45 and above during each pooled period. The CoA of 0.45 was chosen as a cut-off point because it represents associations at least twice the mean male-male CoA of each pooled period (for some pooled periods it was three times the mean). Over the entire 12 yr period there were 15 groupings of males, some selleck chemicals llc were consistently present in every pooled period, while others were present in one, two, or three of the pooled periods. The strongest associations (with CoAs ≥ 0.70) were between pairs or trios of males, with reciprocating strongest CoA values between members (the strongest CoA for each individual was with another member of the pair or trio). In a trio, two of the individuals have reciprocating highest CoA, and the third male (odd male) has lower CoA with the main pair. These associations were stable over many years, lasting up to at least 12 yr. The majority of individuals in the core pairs/trios were mottled and fused and almost all pair/trio members were of the same age class and cluster (except for one pair Rivet-Groucho, Northern-Central). Other associations were temporary groupings lasting no more than three years at a time.