Female Chimpanzees Use Copulation Calls Flexibly to Prevent Social Competition

摘要: The adaptive function of copulation calls in female primates has been debated for years. One influential idea is that are a sexually selected trait, which enables females to advertise their receptive state males. Male-male competition ensues and benefit by getting better mating partners higher quality offspring. We analysed the calling behaviour wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Budongo Forest, Uganda, but found no support male-male hypothesis. Hormone analysis showed copulating was unrelated fertile period likelihood conception. Instead, called significantly more while with high-ranking males, suppressed if were nearby. Copulation may therefore be one potential strategy employed receptivity high-ranked confuse paternity secure future from these socially important individuals. Competition between can dangerously high chimpanzees, our results indicate use strategically minimise risks associated such competition.