Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons
In social species, female mating strategies can be constrained by both male and female groupmates through sexual conflict and reproductive competition, respectively. This study tests if females adjust their sexual behaviour according to the presence of male and female bystanders in wild chacma baboo...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181009 |
| _version_ | 1819114044798271488 |
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| author | Alice Baniel Axelle Delaunay Guy Cowlishaw Elise Huchard |
| author_facet | Alice Baniel Axelle Delaunay Guy Cowlishaw Elise Huchard |
| author_sort | Alice Baniel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In social species, female mating strategies can be constrained by both male and female groupmates through sexual conflict and reproductive competition, respectively. This study tests if females adjust their sexual behaviour according to the presence of male and female bystanders in wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) and assesses their relative importance. Our results show that oestrous females initiate fewer copulations in the presence of adult male bystanders, irrespective of whether they are mate-guarded or not. This inhibitory effect probably reflects a response to indirect sexual coercion by males, whose close proximity may dissuade females to initiate copulations with rival males to avoid punishment and/or aggressive mating interference. By contrast, females initiate more matings with their mate-guard in the presence of higher-ranking female bystanders, which may reflect an attempt to secure bodyguard services from their mate when they feel threatened. These results emphasize the importance of intra- and intersexual conflicts in shaping female sexual behaviour in this promiscuous society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:39:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5361ba96db984c10aedacb00c036e4a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:39:03Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-5361ba96db984c10aedacb00c036e4a92022-12-21T18:38:48ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032019-01-016110.1098/rsos.181009181009Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboonsAlice BanielAxelle DelaunayGuy CowlishawElise HuchardIn social species, female mating strategies can be constrained by both male and female groupmates through sexual conflict and reproductive competition, respectively. This study tests if females adjust their sexual behaviour according to the presence of male and female bystanders in wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) and assesses their relative importance. Our results show that oestrous females initiate fewer copulations in the presence of adult male bystanders, irrespective of whether they are mate-guarded or not. This inhibitory effect probably reflects a response to indirect sexual coercion by males, whose close proximity may dissuade females to initiate copulations with rival males to avoid punishment and/or aggressive mating interference. By contrast, females initiate more matings with their mate-guard in the presence of higher-ranking female bystanders, which may reflect an attempt to secure bodyguard services from their mate when they feel threatened. These results emphasize the importance of intra- and intersexual conflicts in shaping female sexual behaviour in this promiscuous society.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181009social influenceintersexual conflictsintrasexual competitionchacma baboon |
| spellingShingle | Alice Baniel Axelle Delaunay Guy Cowlishaw Elise Huchard Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons Royal Society Open Science social influence intersexual conflicts intrasexual competition chacma baboon |
| title | Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons |
| title_full | Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons |
| title_fullStr | Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons |
| title_short | Oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons |
| title_sort | oestrous females avoid mating in front of adult male bystanders in wild chacma baboons |
| topic | social influence intersexual conflicts intrasexual competition chacma baboon |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181009 |
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