A model for the evolution of developmental arrest in male orangutans

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Gauri R PradhanC P van Schaik

Abstract

Male Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) may delay for many years the acquisition of the full array of secondary sexual traits, including their characteristic cheek flanges. Such flexible developmental arrest is unique among male primates. Among male Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) such long delays appear less common. Here, we develop a simple model to identify the conditions under which developmental arrest can be adaptive. We show that the baseline strategy (i.e., males are not susceptible to arrest) cannot be invaded by the flexible strategy (i.e., males can arrest their development when the conditions are unfavorable) when the potential for high-ranking unflanged or flanged males to monopolize sexual access to females is low. In contrast, at high monopolization potential, the flexible strategy is the evolutionarily stable strategy. We also derive the proportion of flanged males in the population for each combination of monopolization values. This model concurs with field data that found a different monopolization potential between Bornean and Sumatran flanged males and a lower proportion of flanged males in the population in Sumatran orangutans. Pronounced developmental arrest is linked to very low adult mortality, which...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Apr 10, 2013·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Carel P van Schaik
Aug 4, 2015·American Journal of Primatology·Pascal R MartyTony Weingrill
Jan 8, 2021·Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·Julia A KunzCarel P van Schaik
Aug 12, 2021·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Alexandra E Kralick, Kate McGrath

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