Generally, nonreproductive sex is thought to act as “social grease,” facilitating peaceful coexistence between subjects that lack close genetic ties. However, specifc nonreproductive sexual behaviors may fulfill different functions. With this study, we aimed to test whether nonreproductive mounts in Barbary macaques are used to 1) assert dominance, 2) reinforce social relationships, and/or 3) solve conflicts. We analyzed nonreproductive mounts (N = 236) and postmount behavior in both aggressive and nonaggressive contexts, in 118 individuals belonging to two semi-free-ranging groups at La Montagne des Singes (France). As predicted by the dominance assertion hypothesis, the probability to be the mounter increased with rank difference, especially in aggressive contexts (increasing from 0.066 to 0.797 in nonaggressive contexts, and from 0.011 to 0.969 in aggressive contexts, when the rank difference was minimal vs. maximal). The strength of the social bond did not significantly predict the proportion of mounts across dyads in nonaggressive contexts, providing no support for the relationship reinforcement hypothesis. Finally, in support of the conflict resolution hypothesis, when individuals engaged in postconflict mounts, 1) the probability of being involved in further aggression decreased from 0.825 to 0.517, while 2) the probability of being involved in grooming interactions with each other increased from 0.119 to 0.606. The strength of the social bond between former opponents had no significant effect on grooming occurrence and agonistic behavior after postconflict mounts. Overall, our findings suggest that nonreproductive mounts in Barbary macaques have different functions that are not affected by the strength of the social bond.

通常，非生殖性被认为是一种“社会油脂”，促进了缺乏紧密遗传联系的受试者之间的和平共处。但是，特定的非生殖性行为可能具有不同的功能。通过这项研究，我们旨在测试巴巴里猕猴的非生殖坐骑是否用于1）保持统治地位，2）加强社会关系和/或3）解决冲突。我们分析了非繁殖坐骑（ñ= 236），并且在侵略性和非侵略性背景下的后置行为，在La Montagne des Singes（法国）的两个半自由放养组的118个人中。正如优势断言假设所预测的那样，当等级差异最小时，特别是在侵略性环境中，贴片机的概率随等级差异而增加（在非侵略性背景下从0.066增至0.797，在侵略性背景下从0.011增至0.969。最大）。社会纽带的强度并不能显着预测在非侵略性情况下跨二联体坐骑的比例，也没有为关系强化假设提供支持。最后，为了支持解决冲突的假设，当个人参与冲突后活动时，1）参与进一步侵略的可能性从0.825降低至0.517，而2）参与相互修饰的概率从0.119升高至0.606。前对手之间的社会纽带强度对冲突发生后的修饰发生和激动行为没有显着影响。总体而言，我们的发现表明，巴巴里猕猴的非生殖坐骑具有不同的功能，不受社会纽带强度的影响。