Endocranial volume is variable and heritable, but not related to fitness, in a free-ranging primate.

ABSTRACT: Large relative brain size is a defining characteristic of the order Primates. Arguably, this can be attributed to selection for behavioral aptitudes linked to a larger brain size. In order for selection of a trait to occur, the trait must vary, that variation must be heritable, and enhance fitness. In this study, we use a quantitative genetic approach to investigate the production and maintenance of variation in endocranial volume in a population of free-ranging rhesus macaques. We measured the endocranial volume and body mass proxies of 542 rhesus macaques from Cayo Santiago. We investigated variation in endocranial volume within and between sexes. Using a genetic pedigree, we estimated heritability of absolute and relative endocranial volume, and selection gradients of both traits as wel

SUBMITTER: Colby AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7895985 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature