MSGID: 1:317/3 64acdae5   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Study shows same-sex sexual behavior is widespread and heritable in   
   macaque monkeys    
      
     Date:   
         July 10, 2023   
     Source:   
         Imperial College London   
     Summary:   
         Observations of a wild colony of macaques over three years show   
         same-sex sexual behavior among males is widespread and may be   
         beneficial.   
      
      
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   Observations of a wild colony of macaques over three years show same-sex   
   sexual behaviour among males is widespread and may be beneficial.   
      
   The results, published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution, suggest   
   same-sex sexual behaviour (SSB) has evolved and may be a common feature   
   of primate reproduction.   
      
   Conducted by researchers at Imperial College London, the observations   
   and genetic data form the first long-term study of SSB in males within   
   one species.   
      
   Their study challenges the beliefs of some that SSB is a rare behaviour   
   in non- human animals or solely the product of unusual environmental   
   conditions.   
      
   First author Jackson Clive, from the Georgina Mace Centre for the   
   Living Planet at Imperial, said: "We found most males were behaviourally   
   bisexual, and that variation in same-sex activity was heritable. This   
   means that the behaviour can have an evolutionary underpinning; for   
   example, we also found that males that mounted each other were also more   
   likely to back each other up in conflicts - - perhaps this could be one   
   of many social benefits to same-sex sexual activity."  "Our research   
   therefore shows that same-sex sexual behaviours can be common amongst   
   animals and can evolve. I hope our results encourage further discoveries   
   in this area.''  Origins of same-sex behaviours The team studied 236   
   males within a colony of 1,700 rhesus macaques living freely on the   
   tropical island of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. As well as observing   
   their behaviour and conducting genetic analyses, the team had access to   
   pedigree records, which detail parentage of each individual back to 1956.   
      
   The researchers recorded all social 'mountings' for the 236 males,   
   both of males-on-males (same-sex behaviour, SSB) and males-on-females   
   (different-sex behaviour, DSB). They found that male same-sex mounting   
   was widespread: 72% of sample males engaged in same-sex mounting, in   
   comparison with 46% for different-sex mounting.   
      
   SSB has been observed in thousands of different animals, ranging from   
   insects to penguins, leading many to theorise about why it happens. These   
   theories include ideas about establishing dominance in groups, shortages   
   of different- sex partners, and reducing tension following aggression,   
   but little data is available to support any theory.   
      
   The team investigated several of these theories with their data, finding   
   that, for this colony of macaques, SSB in males was strongly correlated   
   with 'coalitionary bonds'. This means male pairs that regularly engage   
   in SSB were more likely to back each other up in conflicts, providing   
   them with an advantage in the group.   
      
   Heritable behaviours The researchers also investigated whether SSB led to   
   any fitness cost -- a reduction in the amount of offspring they have. In   
   fact, they found the opposite -- males that engaged in SSB may be more   
   successful in reproducing, potentially due to the benefits provided by   
   more coalitionary bonds.   
      
   In line with this, the team also analysed whether SSB was heritable. Using   
   the pedigree data, they found SSB in males was 6.4% heritable, which   
   provides the first evidence of a genetic link to primate SSB outside of   
   humans. This figure is similar to other heritable behaviours in primates,   
   such as grooming and sociality.   
      
   These findings support counter-arguments to the idea that SBB 'defies   
   nature and evolution' (the so-called 'Darwinian Paradox').   
      
   The team also found some genetic correlation between males that were more   
   often 'mounters' or 'mountees' when engaging in SSB, suggesting these   
   sub-behaviours may have a common basis. In addition, whether individuals   
   were more likely to be mounters or mountees did not corelate with their   
   social position, suggesting asserting their place in the hierarchy is   
   not an important factor for SSB in this species.   
      
   Macaques and humans Though the researchers caution against direct   
   comparisons to humans, they say their study challenges the beliefs of   
   some that SSB is a rare behaviour in non- human animals or solely the   
   product of unusual environmental conditions.   
      
   Instead, the results suggest some degree of SSB can evolve adaptively,   
   depending on the context, and so may be a common feature of primate   
   reproductive ecology. There are many examples of other primate groups   
   engaging in different forms of SSB, so further in-depth genetic studies   
   could strengthen this conclusion.   
      
   Lead researcher Professor Vincent Savolainen, Director of the Georgina   
   Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Imperial, said: "Unfortunately   
   there is still a belief amongst some people that same-sex behaviour is   
   'unnatural,' and some countries sadly still enforce the death penalty   
   for homosexuality. Our research shows that same-sex behaviour is in fact   
   widespread amongst non-human animals.   
      
   "Our mission is to advance scientific understanding of same-sex   
   behaviour, including exploring the benefits it brings to nature and   
   within animal societies. Amongst the macaques we looked at in this study,   
   more than two- thirds displayed same-sex behaviour and this behaviour   
   strengthened the bonds within the community."  The research was funded by   
   the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the American Institute   
   of Bisexuality, and the Evolution Education Trust.   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by Imperial_College_London. Original   
   written by Hayley Dunning. Note: Content may be edited for style and   
   length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Jackson Clive, Ewan Flintham, Vincent Savolainen. Same-sex   
      sociosexual   
         behaviour is widespread and heritable in male rhesus   
         macaques. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2023; DOI:   
         10.1038/s41559-023-02111-y   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230710113924.htm   
      
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