2023-10-03 17:00:05
A team led by the Experimental Station for Arid Zones (EEZA), an institute of the Higher Scientific Research Council (CSIC), has carried out a study on the evolution of homosexual behavior in mammals and has concluded that this behavior occurs more frequently in those species that interact within the same group.
The results, which are published in the journal Nature Communicationssuggest that the sexual behavior between individuals of the same group, prevalent in the case of primates, plays an important role in establishing and maintaining their bonds.
Homosexual behaviors in non-human mammals, operationally defined as “transient behaviors that are normally performed at some point during reproduction with a member of the opposite sex, but that are instead directed at members of the same sex,” have attracted attention. attention from disciplines as diverse as sociology, psychology, zoology, evolutionary biology or behavioral ecology. Since it does not directly contribute to reproduction, it is considered an evolutionary enigma.
It is a common trend in mammals, recorded so far in approximately 5% of species and 50% of families.
According to the researchers, sexual behavior between individuals of the same sex is a common trend in mammals, recorded so far in approximately 5% of species and 50% of families. Furthermore, it is practiced with similar prevalence by males and females.
According to currently available data, it is not randomly distributed among mammalian lineages, but tends to be particularly prevalent in some cases, especially in primates, where it has been observed in at least 51 species, from lemurs to apes. While in some species this is incidental and only occurs in very specific situations, in approximately 40% of species homosexual behavior is a moderate or even frequent activity during the mating season.
Links within the group
The study has detected a significant association, at the species level, between the occurrence of sexual behavior between individuals of the same sex and social behavior, in both males and females, with social species being the most likely to exhibit this type of behavior. interactions. These results support the hypothesis that this sexual behavior has been evolutionarily favored as a way to establish, maintain and reinforce social relationships that can increase ties and alliances between members of the same group.
Same-sex sexual behavior exhibited by non-human mammals is an adaptation for maintaining social relationships in both sexes.
Jose María Gómez, researcher at the EEZA-CSIC.
“Our study suggests that same-sex sexual behavior exhibited by non-human mammals, rather than aberrant or maladaptive behavior, is an adaptation that plays an important role in maintaining social relationships in both sexes and mitigating the risks.” conflicts mainly between males”, indicates José María Gómezmain author of this study and researcher at the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology of the EEZA-CSIC.
This comparative phylogenetic analysis has also found a relationship between this sexual behavior and intrasexual violence, in this case only for males. Species whose males are more violent are more likely to exhibit this sexual behavior at some point in their lives.
It tends to be prevalent in some groups, especially primates, where it has been observed in at least 51 species, from lemurs to apes.
Adela González, researcher at the UGR
“According to available data, this behavior is not randomly distributed among mammalian lineages, but rather tends to be particularly prevalent in some groups, especially primates, where it has been observed in at least 51 species, from lemurs to apes,” highlights Adela Gonzalezco-author of the study and researcher at the University of Granada (UGR).
“As is the case for most traits, evolution has left us a trace of incalculable value to understand this behavior in nature,” says Miguel Verdú, from the Desertification Research Center (CSIC-University of Valencia-Generalitat Valenciana). .
The University of Granada (UGR) and the Desertification Research Center (CIDE), a joint center between the CSIC, the University of Valencia (UV) and the Generalitat Valenciana (GVA), have also participated in this study.
Rights: Creative Commons.
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