AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR Volume 29, pages 81–93 (2003) Variability in Behavior Frequencies and Consistency in Transactions Across Seasons in Captive Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) C. Abegg, O. Petit, and B. Thierry n Centre d’Ecologie et Physiologie Energe ´ tiques, CNRS, Strasbourg, France : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Consistent interspecific differences are found in macaque species, ranging from highly hierarchical and nepotistic societies to more tolerant and open social organizations. It still remains to be demonstrated whether intraspecific variation is narrower than interspecific variation. Herein, we quantified social behavior in a captive group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to estimate the range of intraspecific variation for a full array of measurements in three different seasons. Despite an increased frequency of aggression found on the part of males during the mating season, the form of the behaviors performed remained relatively unchanged. Transactions during conflicts, approaches, or grooming did not undergo significant variations in relation to season. Frequencies and durations seemed more sensitive to demographic and environmental variations. The values measured in the study group are representative of the Japanese macaque. The results validate the use of transaction measurements in interspecific comparisons, providing that additional factors such as age and sex are taken into account. Aggr. Behav. 29:81–93, 2003. r 2003, Wiley-Liss, Inc. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Keywords: aggression; sexual behavior; seasonality; transaction; covariation; primates INTRODUCTION The study of social relations in macaques has shown that aggression intensity, conflict asymmetry, and reconciliation rates are interdependent variables. They seem to covary within macaque social organizations [Aureli et al., 1997; de Waal and Luttrell, 1989; Petit et al., 1997; Thierry, 1985, 2000]. For instance, post-conflict reunions between previous opponents are more common in species where attacked individuals may frequently protest and retaliate against their aggressors. Consistent interspecific differences in dominance styles have been found, making it possible to order macaque species along a four-grade scale, from highly hierarchical and nepotistic societies to more tolerant and open organizations [de Waal and n Correspondence to: Equipe d’Ethologie et Ecologie Comportementale des Primates, Centre d’Ecologie et Physiologie Energe´ tiques, CNRS UPR 9010, 7 rue de l’Universite´ , 67000 Strasbourg, France. E-mail: thierry@neurochem.u-strasbg.fr Received 29 August 2001; amended version accepted 2 January 2002 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/ab.10034 r 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.