Attractiveness of female sexual signaling predicts differences in female grouping patterns between bonobos and chimpanzees.

ABSTRACT: Here we show that sexual signaling affects patterns of female spatial association differently in chimpanzees and bonobos, indicating its relevance in shaping the respective social systems. Generally, spatial association between females often mirrors patterns and strength of social relationships and cooperation within groups. While testing for proposed differences in female-female associations underlying female coalition formation in the species of the genus Pan, we find only limited evidence for a higher female-female gregariousness in bonobos. While bonobo females exhibited a slightly higher average number of females in their parties, there is neither a species difference in the time females spent alone, nor in the number of female party members in the absence of sexually attractive femal

SUBMITTER: Surbeck M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8460808 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature