Dominance and reproductive rates in captive female olive baboons, Papio anubis

Citation

Garcia C, Lee PC & Rosetta L (2006) Dominance and reproductive rates in captive female olive baboons, Papio anubis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 131 (1), pp. 64-72. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20405

Abstract
The reproductive cycles of 23 captive olive baboons were studied over two successive parturitions. Interbirth intervals of 450 days were reduced by 60% in comparison to wild baboons, and consisted of 145 days of postpartum amenorrhea, 3.5 cycles, and a gestation of 185 days. Dominance rank was found to be one significant factor affecting female fertility. Low-ranking females had longer total intervals between successive births and, in particular, they experienced a longer delay to conception once they had resumed sexual cycles. Mothers of infants who were heavy for age resumed cycling more quickly and had fewer cycles before a subsequent conception. Mothers best able to sustain rapid early infant growth were those of high dominance rank and of high body mass; these females had more rapid reproductive rates. As female energy intake was unrelated to dominance, we suggest that social stresses are important suppressors of the hormonal and lactational competence of subordinate females.

Keywords
postpartum amenorrhea; resumption of cycling; interbirth interval; dominance rank; fertility; Olive baboons Sexual behavior; Olive baboons Reproduction; Baboons Sexual behavior; Baboons Reproduction; Captive wild animals Breeding

Journal
American Journal of Physical Anthropology: Volume 131, Issue 1