Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorThompson, Melissa Emery
dc.contributor.authorWrangham, Richard W.
dc.date.accessioned2010-03-10T16:20:15Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.identifier.citationThompson, Melissa E., and Richard W. Wrangham. 2008. Male mating interest varies with female fecundity in Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii of Kanyawara, Kibale National Park. International Journal of Primatology 29(4): 885-905.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0164-0291en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:3716622
dc.description.abstractFemale chimpanzees mate promiscuously during a period of extended receptivity marked by prominent sexual swelling. Recent studies of wild chimpanzees indicate that subtle variations in swelling size could act as a reliable cue of female fertilization potential both within and between cycles (Emery and Whitten Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 54, 340–351, 2003; Deschner et al. Hormones and Behavior, 46, 204–215, 2004). Copulation rates increase during the periovulatory period and during conception cycles (Deschner et al. Hormones and Behavior, 46, 204–215, 2004; Emery Thompson American Journal of Primatology, 67, 137–158, 2005a), suggesting that males may be able to assess female fertilization potential. We asked whether facultative timing of copulation in Kanyawara chimpanzees was due to increased male mating interest or to increased female proceptivity during the most fecund days. We assessed multiple measures of male mating effort in cycles aligned relative to the day of detumescence and compared periovulatory days to other days of maximal swelling, and conception cycles to nonconception cycles. The rate and proportion of male initiative in soliciting sexual behavior increased during periods of highest fertilization potential. Males were also more likely to interrupt copulations, associate with estrous females, and compete with other males when females were most likely to conceive. Females initiated copulations more frequently during conception cycles but did not visibly shift mating behavior within cycles. Our results support the hypothesis that male chimpanzees have the ability to assess the profitability of mating attempts, a trait that may act as a counter-adaptation to female strategies to obscure paternity. We discuss potential cues and the implications for female reproductive strategies.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipAnthropologyen_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherSpringer Verlagen_US
dc.relation.isversionofdoi:10.1007/s10764-008-9286-1en_US
dc.relation.hasversionhttp://www.fas.harvard.edu/~kibale/publications.htmlen_US
dash.licenseMETA_ONLY
dc.subjectattractivenessen_US
dc.subjectchimpanzeesen_US
dc.subjectfecundityen_US
dc.subjectsexual behavioren_US
dc.subjectsexual swellingsen_US
dc.titleMale Mating Interest Varies with Female Fecundity in Pan Troglodytes Schweinfurthii of Kanyawara, Kibale National Parken_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
dc.description.versionVersion of Recorden_US
dc.relation.journalInternational Journal of Primatologyen_US
dash.depositing.authorWrangham, Richard W.
dash.embargo.until10000-01-01
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10764-008-9286-1*
dash.contributor.affiliatedThompson, Melissa Emery
dash.contributor.affiliatedWrangham, Richard


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record