Year: 2020
Type: preprint
Abstract: In humans, a controversial hypothesis suggests that father absence promotes early puberty in daughters. Data from rodents confirm females accelerate maturation with exposure to novel males (“Vandenbergh effect”) and delay it with exposure to male relatives. Here, we report the first case of male-mediated maturation in a wild primate, geladas ( Theropithecus gelada ). Females were more likely to mature after a change in the reproductive male: some matured earlier than expected (Vandenbergh effect) and some later (due to father presence). Novel males stimulated a surge in estrogens for all immature females - even females too young to mature. Although male-mediated puberty accelerated first births, the effect was modest, suggesting that alternative scenarios, such as co-evolution with the Bruce effect (male-mediated fetal loss) may explain this phenomenon. One Sentence Summary Novel males induce an estrogen surge, male-mediated puberty, and a head-start on reproduction for immature female geladas.
Language: English
Topic: Primate Behavior and Ecology
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1093708181, G1445643363, G1649512871, G2400620618, G2637863281, G277672510, G3160930114, Functional genomics of high-altitude adaptation in a non-human primate model, G4044506009, LTREB: Social dynamics and fitness in a complex primate society, Collaborative research: Physiological signatures of variable weaning strategies in wild primates, Collaborative research: Physiological signatures of variable weaning strategies in wild primates, LTREB Renewal: Social dynamics and fitness in a complex primate society, Sizing Up Rivals and Mates in Wild Geladas: Visual, Vocal, and Hormonal Signals
OpenAlex ID: W3031341103