Reproductive Life History Traits of Female Orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Shumaker, Robert W.; Wich, Serge A.; Perkins, Lori

doi:10.1159/000137705

Cited by 31 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Recent findings on the life histories of wild orangutans reveal that many life-history milestones occur much later than in chimpanzees or gorillas, and that life stages are consequently of longer duration (26,28,29) (Table 2). The late ages at M1 emergence in the two Pongo individuals described here are consistent with this more prolonged life-history profile.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental development and life history in living African and Asian apes

Kelley

Schwartz²

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Life-history inference is an important aim of paleoprimatology, but life histories cannot be discerned directly from the fossil record. Among extant primates, the timing of many life-history attributes is correlated with the age at emergence of the first permanent molar (M1), which can therefore serve as a means to directly compare the life histories of fossil and extant species. To date, M1 emergence ages exist for only a small fraction of extant primate species and consist primarily of data from captive individuals, which may show accelerated dental eruption compared with freeliving individuals. Data on M1 emergence ages in wild great apes exist for only a single chimpanzee individual, with data for gorillas and orangutans being anecdotal. This paucity of information limits our ability to make life-history inferences using the M1 emergence ages of extinct ape and hominin species. Here we report reliable ages at M1 emergence for the orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus (4.6 y), and the gorilla, Gorilla gorilla (3.8 y), obtained from the dental histology of wild-shot individuals in museum collections. These ages and the one reported age at M1 emergence in a free-living chimpanzee of approximately 4.0 y are highly concordant with the comparative life histories of these great apes. They are also consistent with the average age at M1 emergence in relation to the timing of life-history events in modern humans, thus confirming the utility of M1 emergence ages for life-history inference and providing a basis for making reliable life-history inferences for extinct apes and hominins. dental histology | great apes | tooth eruption | tooth growth

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental development and life history in living African and Asian apes

Kelley

Schwartz²

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Especially relevant to comparative evolutionary hypotheses regarding reproductive patterns in primates are recent long-term life history data emerging from field sites where great apes have now been monitored in some cases for well over 30 years [Emery Thompson et al, 2007;Pusey et al, 2007;Robbins et al, 2006;Sugiyama, 2004;Wich et al, 2004]. Fueling the ongoing discussion on whether menopause occurs in nonhuman primates is compelling evidence of contrasting differences in female fertility patterns between captive and wild populations in apes [Atsalis & Margulis, 2006;Atsalis et al, 2004;Littleton, 2005;Nishida et al, 2003;Robbins et al, 2006;Roof et al, 2005;Shumaker et al, 2008;Videan et al, 2007;Wich et al, 2004] as well as other species [e.g. Beehner et al, 2006;Gagliardi et al, 2007;Johnson & Kapsalis, 1998;Martin et al, 2003].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive aging in captive and wild common chimpanzees: factors influencing the rate of follicular depletion

Atsalis

Videan²

2008

American J Primatol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We examine and discuss evidence of contrasting differences in fertility patterns between captive and wild female chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, as they age; in the wild females reproduce in their 40s, but captive studies suggest that menopause occurs around that time. Thus, despite the increased longevity generally observed in captive populations reproductive life span is shortened. We outline a hypothesis to explain the apparent differential pace of reproductive decline observed between wild and captive populations. The breeding schedules of captive primates may contribute to accelerated reproductive senescence because continuous cycling in captive animals results in early depletion of the ovarian stock and premature senescence. Available evidence supports the hypothesis that women with patterns of high oocyte loss experience earlier menopause. Chimpanzees in captivity live longer, and thus, similar to humans, they may experience follicular depletion that precedes death by many years. In captivity, chimpanzees typically have an early age at menarche and first birth, shorter interbirth intervals associated with short lactational periods as young mature faster, and nursery rearing, which allows mothers to begin cycling earlier. Variables typical of wild chimpanzee populations, including late age at menarche and first birth, long interbirth intervals associated with prolonged lactational periods, and a long period of female infertility after immigration, spare ovulations and may be responsible for the later age at reproductive termination. Finally, we describe and discuss the timing of specific reproductive landmarks that occur as female chimpanzees age, distinguishing between functional menopause (age at last birth) and operational menopause (end of cycling).

show abstract

“…280,281 Orangutans are considered to be ''older adults'' at 35 y in some studies and 40 y in others. 9,155,233,280 Physiologic and pathologic states associated with aging in humans and animals include the following: hair loss or graying, generalized frailty, loss of bone (osteopenia and osteoporosis), loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia), arthritis, dental attrition and tooth loss, reproductive senescence, loss of cognitive function and other neurodegenerative conditions (including sensory impairment: hearing, smell, taste, and vision [eg, cataracts, macular degeneration]), cardiovascular disease (including hypertension), endocrinopathies (eg, type II diabetes/metabolic syndrome), renal disease, decline of immune functions, and increased occurrence of many types of neoplasms. 13,125,283 Any one individual will not demonstrate all facets of the aging phenotype but will rather be a mosaic of various aspects of molecular, cellular, and organ changes unique to that aged individual.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Pathology of Aging Great Apes

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans) are our closest relatives. Despite the many similarities, there are significant differences in aging among apes, including the human ape. Common to all are dental attrition, periodontitis, tooth loss, osteopenia, and arthritis, although gout is uniquely human and spondyloarthropathy is more prevalent in apes than humans. Humans are more prone to frailty, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, longevity past reproductive senescence, loss of brain volume, and Alzheimer dementia. Cerebral vascular disease occurs in both humans and apes. Cardiovascular disease mortality increases in aging humans and apes, but coronary atherosclerosis is the most significant type in humans. In captive apes, idiopathic myocardial fibrosis and cardiomyopathy predominate, with arteriosclerosis of intramural coronary arteries. Similar cardiac lesions are occasionally seen in wild apes. Vascular changes in heart and kidneys and aortic dissections in gorillas and bonobos suggest that hypertension may be involved in pathogenesis. Chronic kidney disease is common in elderly humans and some aging apes and is linked with cardiovascular disease in orangutans. Neoplasms common to aging humans and apes include uterine leiomyomas in chimpanzees, but other tumors of elderly humans, such as breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers, are uncommon in apes. Among the apes, chimpanzees have been best studied in laboratory settings, and more comparative research is needed into the pathology of geriatric zoo-housed and wild apes. Increasing longevity of humans and apes makes understanding aging processes and diseases imperative for optimizing quality of life in all the ape species.

show abstract

Reproductive Life History Traits of Female Orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Cited by 31 publications

References 23 publications

Dental development and life history in living African and Asian apes

Dental development and life history in living African and Asian apes

Reproductive aging in captive and wild common chimpanzees: factors influencing the rate of follicular depletion

Comparative Pathology of Aging Great Apes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About