The cooperative sex: Sexual interactions among female bonobos are linked to increases in oxytocin, proximity and coalitions.
Horm Behav
; 116: 104581, 2019 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31449811
ABSTRACT
In some species habitual same-sex sexual behavior co-occurs with high levels of intra-sexual alliance formation, suggesting that these behaviors may be linked. We tested for such a link by comparing behavioral and physiological outcomes of sex with unrelated same- and opposite-sex partners in female bonobos (Pan paniscus). We analyzed behavioral outcomes following 971 sexual events involving nâ¯=â¯19 female and nâ¯=â¯8 male adult and sub-adult members of a wild, habituated bonobo community. We additionally collected nâ¯=â¯143 urine samples before and after sexual interactions to non-invasively measure oxytocin (OT), which modulates female sexual behavior and facilitates cooperation in other species. The majority of sexual events (65%) consisted of female same-sex genito-genital rubbing (or GG-rubbing). Female dyads engaged in significantly more sexual interactions than did inter-sexual dyads, and females were more likely to remain within close proximity to their partners following GG-rubbing. Females also exhibited greater increases in urinary OT following GG-rubbing compared with copulations, indicating a physiological basis for increased motivation to cooperate among females. The frequency of coalitionary support among non-kin was positively predicted by the frequency of sexual interactions for female as well opposite-sex dyads, although coalitionary support tended to be more frequent among females. The emergence of habitual same-sex sexual behavior may have been an important step in the evolution of cooperation outside of kinship and pair-bonds in one of our closest phylogenetic relatives.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Sexual Animal
/
Comportamento Social
/
Ocitocina
/
Comportamento Cooperativo
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Pan paniscus
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Horm Behav
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article