Achievement and maintenance of dominance in males
Christof Neumann, PhD student (in collaboration with Anja Widdig, MPI-EVA) - 2012 completed
The aim of this study is to examine the determinants of a male’s position within a group’s dominance hierarchy and its effect on reproductive success. Questions that will be addressed are in particular:
(1) do individual features, such as age, body size/weight, androgen status, canine condition, characteristics of sexual signals (loud calls, sex skin colouration), personality etc. affect a male’s dominance rank,
(2) how important are male coalition partners for the achievement and maintenance of high rank,
(3) how important is female support for the achievement and maintenance of high rank,
(4) how stable are male hierarchies in time,
(5) what is the effect of rank on reproductive success.
