Skewed sex ratios and female homosexual activity in Japanese macaques: An experimental analysis |
| |
Authors: | Paul L Vasey Carole Gauthier |
| |
Institution: | (1) Center of Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, H3G 1M8 Montreal, Quebec, Canada;(2) Départment d'anthropologie, Université de Montréal, H3C 3J7 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | In this paper we present the results of a behavioral experiment conducted to test whether homosexual consortships and sexual
solicitations among female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) increase in the context of operational sex ratios that are heavily skewed towards females. The study involved a baseline
period of observation on an intact social group which had a female-biased sex ratio typical of this species. During the experimental
period which followed, we created a sub-group with an operational sex ratio that was heavily skewed towards females. Compared
to the baseline period, females solicited significantly more same-sex individuals for sex and formed significantly more homosexual
consortships during the experimental period of the study. Females did not appear to engage in homosexual activity during the
study's experimental period simply because they lacked heterosexual alternatives. Instead, we suggest that an abundance of
certain types of preferred, same-sex sexual partners and/or a scarcity of opposite-sex sexual competitors best account for
the increased levels of female homosexual behavior observed at this time. |
| |
Keywords: | Japanese macaques Homosexual behavior Sex ratios |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|