Sex-specific reproductive behaviours and paternity in free-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) |
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Authors: | Katrin Brauch Keith Hodges Antje Engelhardt Kerstin Fuhrmann Eric Shaw Michael Heistermann |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Goettingen, Germany;(2) Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Muenster, Badestrasse 13, 48149 Muenster, Germany;(3) Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society, Gibraltar Natural History Field Centre, Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar, Germany |
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Abstract: | In a wide variety of species, male reproductive success is determined by contest for access to females. Among multi-male primate
groups, however, factors in addition to male competitive ability may also influence paternity outcome, although their exact
nature and force is still largely unclear. Here, we have investigated in a group of free-ranging Barbary macaques whether
paternity is determined on the pre- or postcopulatory level and how male competitive ability and female direct mate choice
during the female fertile phase are related to male reproductive success. Behavioural observations were combined with faecal
hormone analysis for timing of the fertile phase (13 cycles, 8 females) and genetic paternity analysis (n = 12). During the fertile phase, complete monopolisation of females did not occur. Females were consorted for only 49% of
observation time, and all females had ejaculatory copulations with several males. Thus, in all cases, paternity was determined
on the postcopulatory level. More than 80% of infants were sired by high-ranking males, and this reproductive skew was related
to both, male competitive ability and female direct mate choice as high-ranking males spent more time in consort with females
than low-ranking males, and females solicited copulations mainly from dominant males. As most ejaculatory copulations were
female-initiated, female direct mate choice appeared to have the highest impact on male reproductive success. However, female
preference was not directly translated into paternity, as fathers were not preferred over non-fathers in terms of solicitation,
consortship and mating behaviour. Collectively, our data show that in the Barbary macaque, both sexes significantly influence
male mating success, but that sperm of several males generally compete within the female reproductive tract and that therefore
paternity is determined by mechanisms operating at the postcopulatory level. |
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Keywords: | Faecal hormone analysis Paternity Male reproductive success Female mate choice Postcopulatory mechanisms |
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