Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.
Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany.
Proc Biol Sci. 2022 May 25;289(1975):20220347. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0347.
Male-male bonds may confer substantial fitness benefits. The adaptive value of these relationships is often attributed to coalitionary support, which aids in rank ascension and female defence, ultimately resulting in greater reproductive success. We investigated the link between male-male sociality and both coalitionary support and reproductive success in wild Guinea baboons. This species lives in a tolerant multi-level society with reproductive units comprising a male and 1-6 females at the core. Males are philopatric, form differentiated, stable and equitable affiliative relationships (strong bonds) with other males, and lack a clear rank hierarchy. Here, we analysed behavioural and paternity data for 30 males and 50 infants collected over 4 years in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Strongly bonded males supported each other more frequently during conflicts, but strong bonds did not promote reproductive success. Instead, males that spent less time socializing with other males were associated with a higher number of females and sired more offspring. Notably, reproductively active males still maintained bonds with other males, but adjusted their social investment in relation to life-history stage. Long-term data will be needed to test if the adaptive value of male bonding lies in longer male tenure and/or in promoting group cohesion.
雄性间的纽带可能带来巨大的适应益处。这些关系的适应价值通常归因于联盟支持，它有助于提升等级和保护雌性，最终导致更高的繁殖成功率。我们研究了野生几内亚狒狒中雄性间社交性与联盟支持和繁殖成功率之间的联系。该物种生活在一个宽容的多层次社会中，其生殖单位由核心的 1 只雄性和 1-6 只雌性组成。雄性是亲族的，与其他雄性形成分化的、稳定的和公平的依附关系（强纽带），并且没有明确的等级层次。在这里，我们分析了 30 只雄性和 50 只幼崽在塞内加尔尼奥科洛-科巴国家公园 4 年期间收集的行为和亲子关系数据。在冲突中，紧密联系的雄性相互支持的频率更高，但强纽带并没有促进繁殖成功。相反，与其他雄性社交时间较少的雄性与更多的雌性交配，并生育了更多的后代。值得注意的是，有生殖能力的雄性仍然与其他雄性保持着纽带关系，但会根据生活史阶段调整其社交投资。需要长期数据来检验雄性纽带的适应价值是否在于更长的雄性任期和/或促进群体凝聚力。
