Save

Alternative Reproductive Tactics and Reproductive Success in Male Rhesus Macaques

In: Behaviour
Authors:
John D. Berard Caribbean Primate Research Center University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus P.O. Box 906 Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico 00741, USA

Search for other papers by John D. Berard in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Peter Nurnberg Medizinische Fakultät (Charite) der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Institut für Medizinische Genetik Lui-sentrasse 13a, O-1040 Berlin, Germany

Search for other papers by Peter Nurnberg in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Jorg T. Epplen Abteilung für Molekulare Humangenetik Ruhr-Universität Bochum Universitätsstr. 150, W-4630 Bochum 1, Germany

Search for other papers by Jorg T. Epplen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Jorg Schmidtke Institut für Humangenetik Medizinische Hochschule Konstanty-Gutschow-Strasse 8, W-3000 Hann-over 61, Germany

Search for other papers by Jorg Schmidtke in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€36.93

Abstract

Male rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago use rank-dependent alternative reproductive tactics. High-ranking males can form long-term consorts and guard female mates while low-ranking males frequently resort to quick copulations under the cover of vegetation. No single reproductive tactic provided the Group S males with a definitive reproductive advantage during the one-year study. Males using the long-term tactic and the quick, stealth tactic sired five offspring each, but fewer males used the long-term consort tactic. Males using the long-term reproductive tactic have significantly greater mating success than males using the quick, sneaky tactic, and may have greater reproductive success. The highest-ranking males who form long-term consorts had the greatest degree of reproductive success. This indicates that for the highest-ranking males, forming long-term consorts is the most effective reproductive tactic. The effectiveness of alternative tactics for high-ranking males (i.e. consort disruption and possessive following) was equivocal. Consort disruption had no immediate effect on reproductive success. Possessive following may have resulted in the siring of two offspring by the alpha male, but was ineffective in other cases, where the females were inseminated by subordinate males. The effectiveness of the quick, furtive tactic was demonstrated by the siring of 45% of the infants by males who used this tactic.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1347 223 20
Full Text Views 330 19 2
PDF Views & Downloads 336 30 2