Male reproductive skew, paternal relatedness, and female social relationships

2008 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 695-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Schülke ◽  
Julia Ostner
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Reproductive Skew ◽  
Female Social Relationships

Female Social Relationships of Cebus apella nigritus in a Southeastern Atlantic Forest: An Analysis Through Ecological Models of Primate Social Evolution

Behaviour ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Izar
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Cebus Apella ◽  
Scramble Competition ◽  
Food Abundance ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Female Relationships ◽  
Female Dispersal ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Female Social Relationships

AbstractTheoretical models about female relationships within primate social groups hypothesise that food abundance and distribution are important factors determining the variation of patterns observed among species and populations. Despite some common premises, models formulated by van Schaik (1989) and Sterck et al. (1997) and by Isbell (1991) differ with respect to the importance of predation risk, the co-variation of contest and scramble competition and causes of female dispersal. In this study, data from a population of Cebus apella nigritus from Brazilian Atlantic Forest are analysed using predictions from these models. Competition among females, both within and between groups, is strong and related to food abundance and distribution. Females can transfer between groups, as well as males. Female dispersal is related to a significant reduction in per capita energy intake by group foragers during fruit scarcity periods. The data from this study are not conclusive about the importance of predation in causing variation of female relationships but favour the assumption from van Schaik and Sterck et al. that contest and scramble competition within and between groups can vary independently; and also favour the formulation from Isbell & Van Vuren (1996) on female dispersal. The exact pattern of female social relationships is not sufficiently explained by ecological causes alone. Social benefits provided by the dominant male also seem to be important.

Food conditions, competitive regime, and female social relationships in Japanese macaques: within-population variation on Yakushima

Primates ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goro Hanya ◽  
Miki Matsubara ◽  
Shuhei Hayaishi ◽  
Koichiro Zamma ◽  
Shinichi Yoshihiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Japanese Macaques ◽  
Population Variation ◽  
Food Conditions ◽  
Female Social Relationships

scholarly journals Jealous females? Female competition and reproductive suppression in a wild promiscuous primate

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1886) ◽  
pp. 20181332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Baniel ◽  
Guy Cowlishaw ◽  
Elise Huchard
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Paternal Care ◽  
Female Competition ◽  
Reproductive Suppression ◽  
Papio Ursinus ◽  
Male Care ◽  
Lactating Females ◽  
Male Friend ◽  
Female Social Relationships

Female–female competition over paternal care has rarely been investigated in promiscuous mammals, where discreet forms of male care have recently been reported despite low paternity certainty. We investigated female competition over paternal care in a wild promiscuous primate, the chacma baboon ( Papio ursinus ), where pregnant and lactating females establish strong social bonds (friendships) with males that provide care to their offspring. We tested whether pregnant and lactating females interfere with the sexual activity of their male friend to prevent new conceptions that might lead to the subsequent dilution of his paternal care. We found that pregnant and lactating females were more aggressive towards oestrous females when they had recently conceived themselves, and when the oestrous female was mate-guarded by, and showed greater sexual activity with, their male friend. This aggression also reduced the likelihood of conception of the targeted female. These findings indicate that females can aggressively prevent further conceptions with their offspring's carer through reproductive suppression. Competition over access to paternal care may play an important and underestimated role in shaping female social relationships and reproductive strategies in promiscuous mammalian societies.

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