Incomplete control and concessions explain mating skew in male chimpanzees.

ABSTRACT: Sexual selection theory predicts that because male reproductive success in mammals is limited by access to females, males will attempt to defend access to mates and exclude rivals from mating. In mammals, dominance rank is correlated with male reproductive success; however, the highest-ranking (alpha) male rarely monopolizes reproduction completely. To explain why, incomplete control models propose that alpha males simply cannot control other males' access to mates. If true, then dominance rank should be a key factor influencing subordinate (non-alpha) male mating success. Alternatively, the concession model states that alpha males can prevent other males from gaining access to mates but posits that they concede matings to subordinates in exchange for social favours. This predicts that a m

SUBMITTER: Bray J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5124103 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature