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Cited by 6Primate Behavior and EcologyAnimal Behavior and ReproductionEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Determinants of Harem Size in a Polygynous Primate: Reproductive Success and Social Benefits

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Xia, Wancai, Grueter, Cyril C., Ren, Baoping, Zhang, Dejun, Yuan, Xiaoxia, Li, Dayong·2021·Animals
DOI 10.3390/ani11102915PMC PMC8532613
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Abstract

We used long-term data on the variation in harem size in Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys to research the effects of harem size on reproductive success and the ratio of grooming received to given (RGRG). The results suggest that harem holders derive reproductive benefits commensurate with harem size, whereas the females’ reproductive success is unaffected by harem size. Males of larger harems groomed less and had higher RGRG than males of smaller harems. In the case of females, grooming given increased, and RGRG decreased with an increase in harem size. The males’ reproductive success seems to be a driver of harem size maximization. From the females’ perspective, dwindling social benefits appear to set the upper limit for harem enlargement. We also showed that males of monogamous units (‘single-female harems’) invested more into grooming their female, presumably to prevent unit disintegration and loss of mating privileges.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Xia, W., Grueter, C. C., Ren, B., Zhang, D., Yuan, X., & Li, D.
Affiliations
  • China West Normal University (CN)
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • North Sichuan Medical University (CN)
Corresponding author
Li, Dayong
ORCID
Venue
Animals
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-10-09
Volume
11
Issue
10
Pages
2915
ISSN
2076-2615 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ani11102915
PMC
PMC8532613
OpenAlex
W3205965450
Cited by
6
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Animals (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32070454)
  • the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (2019QZKK0501)
  • Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2021JDRC0024)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
harem size, polygyny, Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, Cynocephalus, reproductive success, grooming, social benefits, male reproductive investment, female reproductive success, primate social organization

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