Male dominance rank and reproductive success in an enclosed group of Japanese macaques: with special reference to post-conception mating |
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Authors: | Miho Inoue Fusako Mitsunaga Masumi Nozaki Hideyuki Ohsawa Akiko Takenaka Yukimaru Sugiyama Keiko Shimizu Osamu Takenaka |
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Institution: | (1) Present address: Shirakawa Institute of Animal Genetics, Odakura, Nishigo, Nishishirakawa, 961 Fukushima, Japan;(2) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, 484 Aichi, Japan;(3) Present address: Department of Nutrition Science, Nagoya Bunri College, 2-1, Sasazuka, Nishi-ku, 451 Nagoya, Aichi, Japan;(4) Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, 484 Aichi, Japan |
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Abstract: | The mating behaviour and reproductive success of male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) were studied in relation to the female sexual cycles, which were monitored from the plasma profiles of gonadotropins and
ovarian hormones. Based on observations of the mating behaviour during four successive mating seasons and paternity identification
by DNA fingerprinting in 35 out of 37 offspring born in the subsequent birth seasons, the correlations between (1) male dominance
rank and timing of mating, and (2) male dominance rank and reproductive success were examined. The results may be summarized
as follows. (1) The number of copulations with ejaculation by any male was positively correlated with the male dominance rank,
but not with the identified numbers of offspring fathered by each male. (2) Males could not choose ovulatory females as mating
partners: the number of copulations with ejaculation with females during ovulatory weeks was not related to the male's rank.
Monopolized copulations in consortship were mostly observed between high-ranking males and non-lactating parous females after
conception. (3) Paternity testing showed that the male copulating most frequently with a female was not the identified father
in 11 out of 15 cases. Prediction of the fathers of offspring was difficult even from the number of copulations occurring
at around the estimated time of ovulation. An adaptive explanation of these correlations is discussed. |
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Keywords: | Japanese macaque Paternity test Mating behaviour Hormonal status Estimated ovulation DNA fingerprinting |
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