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Dominance rank and fecal testosterone levels in adult male Chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii ) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda
Author(s) -
Muehlenbein Michael P.,
Watts David P.,
Whitten Patricia L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.20062
Subject(s) - troglodytes , national park , biology , sociality , dominance (genetics) , primate , testosterone (patch) , population , demography , zoology , feces , ecology , endocrinology , biochemistry , sociology , gene
Abstract In an attempt to describe hormone–behavior interactions in a sample of wild male chimpanzees, we quantified testosterone in 67 fecal samples obtained from 22 adult male chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. A mixed‐model methodology that controlled for age‐class identified a significant positive association between testosterone levels and dominance rank. The results are consistent with those reported from a separate, smaller chimpanzee community in the same population in a study that analyzed testosterone levels in urine [Muller & Wrangham, 2004]. As in that earlier study, our results held during a period of social stability, which is not consistent with predictions of the “challenge hypothesis.” We concur with Muller and Wrangham [2004] that the challenge hypothesis requires modification to explain the chimpanzee data, because fission‐fusion sociality in chimpanzees makes challenges unpredictable. We also discuss the utility of fecal samples and a mixed‐model statistical method for behavioral endocrinology studies. Am. J. Primatol. 64:71–82, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.