Sexual selection and the evolution of brain size in primates.

ABSTRACT: Reproductive competition among males has long been considered a powerful force in the evolution of primates. The evolution of brain size and complexity in the Order Primates has been widely regarded as the hallmark of primate evolutionary history. Despite their importance to our understanding of primate evolution, the relationship between sexual selection and the evolutionary development of brain size is not well studied. The present research examines the evolutionary relationship between brain size and two components of primate sexual selection, sperm competition and male competition for mates. Results indicate that there is not a significant relationship between relative brain size and sperm competition as measured by relative testis size in primates, suggesting sperm competition has not

SUBMITTER: Schillaci MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1762360 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature