Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior
The “challenge hypothesis” predicts higher male–male aggressive behavior along with increases in testosterone levels during times of reproductive challenges and social instability. In addition, in some primate species, higher glucocorticoid levels can be observed as well, but this is usually modulat...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/813 |
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| author | Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina Javier I. Borráz-León Gilberto Matamoros-Trejo Claudio de la O Gema R. Estudillo-Mendoza Lilian Mayagoitia-Novales Dario Maestripieri |
| author_facet | Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina Javier I. Borráz-León Gilberto Matamoros-Trejo Claudio de la O Gema R. Estudillo-Mendoza Lilian Mayagoitia-Novales Dario Maestripieri |
| author_sort | Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The “challenge hypothesis” predicts higher male–male aggressive behavior along with increases in testosterone levels during times of reproductive challenges and social instability. In addition, in some primate species, higher glucocorticoid levels can be observed as well, but this is usually modulated by dominance rank. We studied rank-related aggressive behavior, mating activity, and fecal testosterone and glucocorticoid metabolites (fTm and fGCm) in male stumptail macaques (<i>Macaca arctoides</i>) in order to test some predictions of the “challenge hypothesis”. Over a 20-month period, we collected data on aggressive behavior and copulation, as well as fecal samples (n = 700) to quantify fTm and fGCm in seven adult stumptail males living in captivity. During periods of mating activity, male-to-male aggression increased in higher- and middle-ranking males. Neither fTm nor fGCm levels predicted male-to-male aggression. fGCm levels (but not fTm) were positively associated with male-to-female aggression; however, this association was pronounced during periods of mating activity. fGCm levels differed according to social rank, with middle-ranking males having the highest levels. Both hormones were higher during periods of mating activity, but only in higher- and middle-ranking males. Taken together, our findings partially support the challenge hypothesis in a non-seasonal primate and shed some light on the unique social and mating system of the stumptail macaque. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7fa316de95344a24b95db14c64afb6ec |
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| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7fa316de95344a24b95db14c64afb6ec2023-11-18T09:22:55ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-06-0112681310.3390/biology12060813Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating BehaviorAna Lilia Cerda-Molina0Javier I. Borráz-León1Gilberto Matamoros-Trejo2Claudio de la O3Gema R. Estudillo-Mendoza4Lilian Mayagoitia-Novales5Dario Maestripieri6Departamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Ciudad de México 14370, MexicoDepartamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Ciudad de México 14370, MexicoDepartamento de Neurofisiología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Ciudad de México 14370, MexicoFES Zaragoza C-III, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santa Cruz Tlaxcala 90640, MexicoDepartamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Ciudad de México 14370, MexicoDepartamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Ciudad de México 14370, MexicoInstitute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USAThe “challenge hypothesis” predicts higher male–male aggressive behavior along with increases in testosterone levels during times of reproductive challenges and social instability. In addition, in some primate species, higher glucocorticoid levels can be observed as well, but this is usually modulated by dominance rank. We studied rank-related aggressive behavior, mating activity, and fecal testosterone and glucocorticoid metabolites (fTm and fGCm) in male stumptail macaques (<i>Macaca arctoides</i>) in order to test some predictions of the “challenge hypothesis”. Over a 20-month period, we collected data on aggressive behavior and copulation, as well as fecal samples (n = 700) to quantify fTm and fGCm in seven adult stumptail males living in captivity. During periods of mating activity, male-to-male aggression increased in higher- and middle-ranking males. Neither fTm nor fGCm levels predicted male-to-male aggression. fGCm levels (but not fTm) were positively associated with male-to-female aggression; however, this association was pronounced during periods of mating activity. fGCm levels differed according to social rank, with middle-ranking males having the highest levels. Both hormones were higher during periods of mating activity, but only in higher- and middle-ranking males. Taken together, our findings partially support the challenge hypothesis in a non-seasonal primate and shed some light on the unique social and mating system of the stumptail macaque.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/813fecal glucocorticoid metabolitesfecal testosterone metaboliteschallenge hypothesisaggressioncopulation<i>Macaca arctoides</i> |
| spellingShingle | Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina Javier I. Borráz-León Gilberto Matamoros-Trejo Claudio de la O Gema R. Estudillo-Mendoza Lilian Mayagoitia-Novales Dario Maestripieri Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior Biology fecal glucocorticoid metabolites fecal testosterone metabolites challenge hypothesis aggression copulation <i>Macaca arctoides</i> |
| title | Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior |
| title_full | Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior |
| title_fullStr | Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior |
| title_short | Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior |
| title_sort | testing the challenge hypothesis in stumptail macaque males the role of testosterone and glucocorticoid metabolites in aggressive and mating behavior |
| topic | fecal glucocorticoid metabolites fecal testosterone metabolites challenge hypothesis aggression copulation <i>Macaca arctoides</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/813 |
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