Abstract: Socio-ecological theory suggests a link between the rates of agonism, strength of competition for food or safety, reproduction, and structure of dominance hierarchies among group-living females. With research on non-human primates, it is critical to select the method of determining and describing dominance relationships. In the past, research on the Old World monkeys mainly focused on males, with little emphasis on the role of females. However recently, studies focusing on female dominance relationships have attracted more scientific attention. In primatology, the methods to determine dominance hierarchies are very important. Plenty of behavioral standards ( such as aggressive-submissive, feeding, carrying infant, grooming etc. ) were used in researching female relationships with results showing varied strategies among different species. Primate social structures are divided into two types: linear hierarchy and partial hierarchy, which can be described using different methods. We followed the“dominance-directed tree”methodology, which is able to detect both types of hierarchy. By summarizing a number of different research studies on dominance, this article presents a methodological standard for determining and describing female dominance relationships.

Key words: Non-human primates; Female hierarchy; Dominance; Behavioral Standards; Descriptive methodology