Integrating the female masculinization and challenge hypotheses: Female dominance, male deference, and seasonal hormone fluctuations in adult blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons)

Grebe, Nicholas M.; Sheikh, Alizeh; Drea, Christine M.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105108

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 73 publications

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“…Adult female androgen levels are known to respond to the competitive social environment in humans and nonhuman primates. Females, like males, can experience heightened androgens during competitive or aggressive social interactions (humans: Geniole et al., 2017; Van Anders et al., 2015; lemurs: Grebe et al., 2022). However, the topic of female dominance and the physiological effects of competition in humans and other primates is understudied overall, and our current understanding comes largely from taxa with “female‐biased power structures” (e.g., lemurs, hyenas; Grebe et al., 2022; Lewis, 2018).…”

Section: Hpg Axis Programmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming

Brown,

Gettler,

Rosenbaum

2024

Developmental Psychobiology

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Developmental plasticity is particularly important for humans and other primates because of our extended period of growth and maturation, during which our phenotypes adaptively respond to environmental cues. The hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axes are likely to be principal targets of developmental “programming” given their roles in coordinating fitness‐relevant aspects of the phenotype, including sexual development, adult reproductive and social strategies, and internal responses to the external environment. In social animals, including humans, the social environment is believed to be an important source of cues to which these axes may adaptively respond. The effects of early social environments on the HPA axis have been widely studied in humans, and to some extent, in other primates, but there are still major gaps in knowledge specifically relating to males. There has also been relatively little research examining the role that social environments play in developmental programming of the HPG axis or the HPA/HPG interface, and what does exist disproportionately focuses on females. These topics are likely understudied in males in part due to the difficulty of identifying developmental milestones in males relative to females and the general quiescence of the HPG axis prior to maturation. However, there are clear indicators that early life social environments matter for both sexes. In this review, we examine what is known about the impact of social environments on HPG and HPA axis programming during male development in humans and nonhuman primates, including the role that epigenetic mechanisms may play in this programming. We conclude by highlighting important next steps in this research area.

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Section: Hpg Axis Programmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming

Brown,

Gettler,

Rosenbaum

2024

Developmental Psychobiology

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Evidence for female dominance in the Milne‐Edwards' sportive lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)

Rasoloharijaona,

Randrianambinina,

Radespiel

2024

American J Primatol

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Female dominance over males is more frequent in Malagasy lemurs than in other primate clades, but patterns of female–male dominance vary among species, and few data are available for one particularly species‐rich genus, Lepilemur. We investigated the types, temporal distribution, and outcome of female–male agonistic conflicts in the Milne‐Edwards' sportive lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi). Ten L. edwardsi belonging to five social units were equipped with radio collars and observed during 79 focal follows between May and November 1998. We quantified agonistic conflicts, monthly conflict rates, and documented the winner and context for all conflicts. Female–male agonistic conflicts (N = 162) occurred at a mean rate of 0.21 conflicts/hour within groups. Agonistic conflicts peaked during the birth season and occurred mostly in unknown or infant proximity contexts. Females won 96% of all decided agonistic conflicts (N = 154). Other outcomes occurred only when females were with infants during the birth season. In that context, one female sometimes withdrew from her pair partner, and another female withdrew or fled from an extra‐group male whose attacks eventually led to infanticide. Our results suggest female dominance in pair‐living L. edwardsi. We hypothesize that elevated female aggression may convey fitness benefits to female Lepilemur because it generally allows females to intervene quickly and efficiently on behalf of their infants against nonfather males who may approach the newborn infants when they are parked in vegetation.

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Introduction to a brain for all seasons: Using seasonality as a model to uncover brain-behavior mechanisms across species

Demas

Greives

Lutterschmidt

2023

Hormones and Behavior

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Integrating the female masculinization and challenge hypotheses: Female dominance, male deference, and seasonal hormone fluctuations in adult blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur flavifrons)

Cited by 7 publications

References 73 publications

Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming

Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming

Evidence for female dominance in the Milne‐Edwards' sportive lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)

Introduction to a brain for all seasons: Using seasonality as a model to uncover brain-behavior mechanisms across species

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