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'Concealed ovulation' and sexual signals in primates
1Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Female primates may not conceal ovulation; the lack of sexual signals is likely due to absent evolutionary pressures. Alternative communication theories better explain conspicuous sexual signals in other species.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Primate behavior
- Animal communication
Background:
- Conspicuous sexual signals in primates are often interpreted as female ovulation concealment.
- This interpretation is challenged by the lack of such signals in humans and vervet monkeys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the hypothesis that primates conceal ovulation.
- To explore alternative explanations for the presence and absence of sexual signals in primates.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing hypotheses on sexual signal evolution.
- Analysis of primate behavioral and evolutionary data.
- Application of communication theory to sexual signals.
Main Results:
- The hypothesis of ovulation concealment lacks strong empirical support and is less parsimonious.
- The absence of sexual signals may result from a lack of selective pressure, not active concealment.
- Conspicuous sexual signals likely serve to communicate with distant or reluctant receivers.
Conclusions:
- The 'ovulation concealment' hypothesis for primate sexual signals is not well-supported.
- Evolutionary pressures, rather than active concealment, better explain signal variation.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the functions of conspicuous sexual signals in communication.