Evolutionary Patterns of Intersexual Power.

ABSTRACT: Dominance and leverage are both possible causes of social inequality. If sexual dimorphism influences patterns of intersexual dominance, we predicted that highly dimorphic species are constrained to exhibit male-biased power (MP), but species with low sexual dimorphism are free to demonstrate a broader range of intersexual power relationships. If market effects influence intersexual leverage, we predicted that females have more power when group composition is more male-biased and estrus is asynchronous. We analyzed data on intersexual power, sexual dimorphism, expected estrous overlap, and sex ratio for 79 extant primate species using phylogenetic logistic regression and ancestral state reconstructions. Although MP is more common, every major primate clade includes non-MP species. MP was a

SUBMITTER: Lewis RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10705298 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature