Developmental instability in wild Nigerian olive baboons (Papio anubis)
Kara C Hoover1,2, Emily Gelipter3, Volker Sommer4,5
1Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States of America.
Peerj
|August 16, 2021
Summary
Male baboons show more developmental instability than females. While weaning is harder for females and reproduction is harder for males, neither life stage is inherently more stressful overall.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Developmental instability can be assessed using fluctuating asymmetry in dental remains.
- Dental enamel deviations reveal disruptions to homeostasis during growth.
- This study examines fluctuating asymmetry in *Papio anubis* dentition.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate fluctuating asymmetry in *Papio anubis* permanent dentition.
- Determine if sex influences developmental instability.
- Assess the impact of weaning and reproductive maturity on developmental instability.
Main Methods:
- Skulls of adult baboons from Nigeria were analyzed.
- Measurements of permanent antimeric teeth (length and breadth) were taken.
- Fluctuating asymmetry was assessed, controlling for measurement error and other asymmetry types.
Main Results:
- Male baboons exhibited greater fluctuating asymmetry than females.
- Weaning was more stressful for females than males.
- Reproductive onset was more stressful for males than females.
Conclusions:
- Sex influences developmental instability in *Papio anubis*.
- Specific life history stages present unique developmental challenges for males and females.
- Further research is needed to understand the ecological and social factors contributing to these differences.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Naturalistic Observations
16.6K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
16.6K
00:53Migration
8.1K
Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
8.1K
01:27Introduction to Developmental Psychology
789
Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
789
01:17Wald-Wolfowitz Runs Test II
353
The Wald-Wolfowitz runs test, commonly referred to as the runs test, is a nonparametric test used to assess the randomness of ordered data. The test evaluates the number of runs, which are consecutive sequences of similar elements within the data. If the number of runs is significantly higher or lower than expected, the data is considered non-random, indicating a detectable pattern or structure.
For binary data, runs are identified using symbols such as + and −, or equivalently, 1s and...
For binary data, runs are identified using symbols such as + and −, or equivalently, 1s and...
353
01:14Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
1.0K
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Exploration...
1.0K
01:21Nondisjunction
4.2K
Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold...
4.2K