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Male orangutans exhibit bimaturism—two mature morphs—flanged and unflanged males. Flanged males are larger, have cheek pads (flanges) and large throat sacs, and produce long calls. Previous orangutan paternity studies found variation between the reproductive success of each morph and in the degrees of reproductive skew. However, these studies were limited by a lack of behavioral maternity data, the inclusion of ex-captive orangutans, and/or the presence of feeding stations. Here we present the first paternity data from completely wild orangutans with known mothers. We hypothesized that (1) flanged males would have higher reproductive success than unflanged males due to flanged male dominance and female preference and (2) a single male would not monopolize paternity due to the temporal and spatial distribution of fecund females. We used fecal samples collected in Gunung Palung National Park from 2008-2019 to genotype orangutans (13 offspring born 2002-2015, their 10 mothers, and 19 candidate sires) using 12 microsatellites. MICROCHECKER 2.2.3 and CERVUS 3.0 were used to confirm the suitability of the microsatellite panel, fidelity of individual identities, and genetic maternity. Paternity analysis was performed with both CERVUS 3.0 and COLONY 2.0.6.7. We were able to identify paternity for six offspring. Four flanged males sired five offspring, and one sire’s morph was unknown at the time of conception. We found that flanged males have higher reproductive success and that females are not monopolizable in this completely wild setting. We discuss the implications of all published orangutan paternity results for understanding bimaturism in orangutans.
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Reproductive success of Bornean orangutan males: scattered in time but clustered in space
AbstractThe social and mating systems of orangutans, one of our closest relatives, remain poorly understood. Orangutans (Pongospp.) are highly sexually dimorphic and females are philopatric and maintain individual, but overlapping home ranges, whereas males disperse, are non-territorial and wide-ranging, and show bimaturism, with many years between reaching sexual maturity and attaining full secondary sexual characteristics (including cheek pads (flanges) and emitting long calls). We report on 21 assigned paternities, among 35 flanged and 15 unflanged, genotyped male Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii), studied from 2003 to 2018 in Tuanan (Central Kalimantan, Indonesia). All 10 infants born since mid-2003 with an already identified sire were sired by flanged males. All adult males ranged well beyond the study area (c. 1000 ha), and their dominance relations fluctuated even within short periods. However, 5 of the 10 identified sires had multiple offspring within the monitored area. Several sired over a period of c. 10 years, which overlapped with siring periods of other males. The long-calling behavior of sires indicated they were not consistently dominant over other males in the area around the time of known conceptions. Instead, when they were seen in the area, the known sires spent most of their time within the home ranges of the females whose offspring they sired. Overall, successful sires were older and more often resident than others. Significance statementIt is difficult to assess reproductive success for individuals of long-lived species, especially for dispersing males, who cannot be monitored throughout their lives. Due to extremely long interbirth intervals, orangutans have highly male-skewed operational sex ratios and thus intensive male-male competition for every conception. Paternity analyses matched 21 immature Bornean orangutans with their most likely sire (only 10 of 50 genotyped males) in a natural population. Half of these identified sires had multiple offspring in the study area spread over periods of at least 10 years, despite frequently ranging outside this area. Dominance was a poor predictor of success, but, consistent with female mating tactics to reduce the risk of infanticide, known “sires” tended to have relatively high local presence, which seems to contribute to the males’ siring success. The results highlight the importance of large protected areas to enable a natural pattern of dispersal and ranging.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1719825
- PAR ID:
- 10499547
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
- Volume:
- 77
- Issue:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 0340-5443
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03407-6
