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Mating in the presence of a competitor: audience effects may promote male social tolerance in polyandrous siamang ( Symphalangus syndactylus ) groups

Mating in the presence of a competitor: audience effects may promote male social tolerance in... Audience effects on sexual behavior, including changes in copulation frequency and duration in the presence of conspecifics, have been reported in multimale–multifemale groups of several primate species. We examined the interaction of male sexual behavior with group composition and within-group mating pattern in a population of siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ) containing unimale–unifemale groups and multimale–unifemale groups using mixed models. Aggression in a sexual context was never observed. As predicted, however, copulation rates were lower and copulations were significantly shorter in duration in two-male groups than in unimale groups, even if copulations involving subordinate males were excluded. Dominant males monopolized copulations with the group female in most groups, but copulations were shared among males in three stable two-male groups. When both resident males copulated with the group’s female, there was no evidence that copulating pairs moved to secluded areas, and the duration of copulations did not differ between males. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that male–male tolerance in multimale siamang groups is facilitated by adjustments to sexual behavior in the presence of a sexual competitor. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Behaviour Brill

Mating in the presence of a competitor: audience effects may promote male social tolerance in polyandrous siamang ( Symphalangus syndactylus ) groups

Lappan, S.; Morino, L.
Behaviour , Volume 151 (7): 1067 – Jan 1, 2014
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References (71)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright 2014 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Subject
Regular articles
ISSN
0005-7959
eISSN
1568-539X
DOI
10.1163/1568539X-00003170
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Audience effects on sexual behavior, including changes in copulation frequency and duration in the presence of conspecifics, have been reported in multimale–multifemale groups of several primate species. We examined the interaction of male sexual behavior with group composition and within-group mating pattern in a population of siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ) containing unimale–unifemale groups and multimale–unifemale groups using mixed models. Aggression in a sexual context was never observed. As predicted, however, copulation rates were lower and copulations were significantly shorter in duration in two-male groups than in unimale groups, even if copulations involving subordinate males were excluded. Dominant males monopolized copulations with the group female in most groups, but copulations were shared among males in three stable two-male groups. When both resident males copulated with the group’s female, there was no evidence that copulating pairs moved to secluded areas, and the duration of copulations did not differ between males. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that male–male tolerance in multimale siamang groups is facilitated by adjustments to sexual behavior in the presence of a sexual competitor.

Journal

Behaviour – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2014

Keywords: audience effects; Way Canguk; sexual behavior; copulation duration; copulation frequency; mating systems; monogamy; polyandry

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