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Lifetime reproductive success of female mountain gorillas
Author(s) -
Robbins Andrew M.,
Stoinski Tara,
Fawcett Katie,
Robbins Martha M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.21605
Subject(s) - longevity , demography , fertility , reproductive success , biology , population , offspring , dominance (genetics) , ecology , zoology , pregnancy , biochemistry , genetics , sociology , gene
Studies of lifetime reproductive success (LRS) are important for understanding population dynamics and life history strategies, yet relatively little information is available for long‐lived species. This study provides a preliminary assessment of LRS among female mountain gorillas in the Virunga volcanoes region. Adult females produced an average of 3.6 ± 2.1 surviving offspring during their lifetime, which indicates a growing population that contrasts with most other great apes. The standardized variance in LRS (variance/mean 2 = 0.34) was lower than many other mammals and birds. When we excluded the most apparent source of environmental variability (poaching), the average LRS increased to 4.3 ± 1.8 and the standardized variance dropped in half. Adult lifespan was a greater source of variance in LRS than fertility or offspring survival. Females with higher LRS had significantly longer adult lifespans and higher dominance ranks. Results for LRS were similar to another standard fitness measurement, the individually estimated finite rate of increase (λ ind ), but λ ind showed diminishing benefits for greater longevity. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.