Reproductive constraints on aggressive competition in female baboons

摘要: COMPETITIVE interaction between females of the same social group is characteristic most primate species1–3. In Old World monkeys, high rank maintain priority access to scarce resources and harass low-ranking companions1–6. But different field studies have found differing correlations female dominance reproductive success: several populations show an advantage whereas others do not1,3,5,7. Although such variation may reflect divergent levels predation, food availability or stress in environments, competitive ability also be balanced by significant costs thus subject strong stabilizing selection. We report here that high-ranking baboons (Papio cynocephalm anubis) at Gombe National Park, Tanzania, enjoy shorter interbirth intervals, improved infant survival, accelerated maturation their daughters. These advantages, however, are countered a significantly higher probability miscarriage, proportion suffer from reduced fertility.