Finally, the large literature on the topic is sometimes characterised by an inconsistent use of key terms for the study of primate dominance hierarchies.
which constrains the applicability of a theory to a wide range of social dynamics. Logistical and methodological factors, such as time spent collecting data, the visibility of animals in the field, and the sampling method used, can make it difficult to compare findings across studies.
Instead, we aim to discuss the possible 'embedded' factors that may affect the support that each theory receives and the (in)consistency across studies. One main factor is clearly the high degree of social flexibility observed in primates, across individuals, groups, populations, and species,
We briefly present the main theories on dominance hierarchies and discuss the factors that may affect the limited support that some of these theories receive from different empirical studies. Our review is not quantitative, so we do not aim to weigh the relative explanatory power of each theory.
However, there is still debate, and lack of consistency across these tests, on what socio-ecological and evolutionary forces shape dominance hierarchies and on their associated benefits and costs for dominant and subordinate individuals.
Understanding the causes and consequences of dominance hierarchies is one of the main goals of studies on social evolution, primatology, and anthropology. Several theories have been proposed to explain dominance hierarchies in primates, each attracting a considerable number of empirical tests.
🚩 Out of the press in the BMSAP
César Rodríguez del Castillo, Denise Spaan, Federica Amici et Bonaventura Majolo " #Primate #dominancehierarchies: A review of theories and terminological ambiguities"
journals.openedition.org/bmsap/18054
Primate dominance hierarchies: A review of theories and terminologi...
Introduction and historical perspective Animal societies exhibit a wide range of diversity both within and among taxa (e.g.,…
🚩call for abstracts for five interconnected sessions at PAG 34 (www.intlpag.org/PAG) from January 8-12, 2027:
#Domestication #Genomics
Ancient #DNA
Comparative Genomics - Animals
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Wildlife Genomics
submission before October 9th, 2026:
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PAG34 - International Plant and Animal Genome Conference - January 8-12, 2027 • San Diego, USA
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Big job opportunity in Johannesburg - Director of the Evolutionary Studies Institute at Wits University:
irec.wits.ac.za/OA_HTML/OA.j...
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UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG
Trans-Evol aims at contributing to remedy this situation by a two-fold strategy: first, by mapping all archaeological and palaeontological localities in a still largely unexplored area, and second, by excavating selected new archaeological sites from the EMPT.
Indeed, the impact of the major climatic upheavals of the EMPT on the evolution of hominin populations remains poorly understood, as there are few well-preserved sites in Africa of this age.
The Trans-Evol project carries out interdisciplinary fieldwork around the Kalapata River, southwest of Lake Turkana, focusing on akey period for human evolution: the transition from the Early to the Middle Pleistocene (i.e., EMPT, 1.25-0.75 Ma).