key term - Infanticide

Definition

Infanticide is the intentional act of killing an infant, often occurring in various animal species, including primates, as a strategy related to reproductive success. This behavior can be influenced by factors such as social dynamics, resource availability, and the overall health of the population. In the context of primates, infanticide is particularly relevant to understanding reproductive strategies and life history traits, reflecting the complexities of parenting and competition for resources.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Infanticide can be seen as a way for a male primate to increase his reproductive success by eliminating offspring that are not his own, thereby increasing the chances of mating with the female again.
2. In some species, infanticide may also be a strategy to reduce competition for resources among infants, ensuring that more surviving offspring have better access to food and protection.
3. Maternal behavior can change dramatically in response to the threat of infanticide; mothers may become more protective or aggressive towards potential threats to their young.
4. Infanticide is not solely driven by males; in certain species, females have also been observed engaging in this behavior under specific social conditions.
5. The occurrence of infanticide varies widely among primate species, influenced by environmental factors such as population density and resource availability.

Review Questions

• How does infanticide influence reproductive strategies in primates?
  • Infanticide influences reproductive strategies by allowing males to eliminate competitors' offspring, thus increasing their mating opportunities with females. When a male kills an infant, it often leads the mother back into estrus sooner than if the infant were alive, allowing the male to mate with her again. This behavior reflects a calculated approach to maximizing reproductive success within competitive social structures.
• Discuss the role of maternal investment in relation to infanticide among primate populations.
  • Maternal investment is critical in understanding how infanticide impacts primate populations. Mothers invest substantial resources in their offspring; however, when faced with the threat of infanticide, they may alter their behaviors for protection. High rates of infanticide can lead mothers to become more aggressive or choose safer environments for raising their young, ultimately affecting their reproductive success and overall fitness in their social group.
• Evaluate the ecological and social factors that contribute to the occurrence of infanticide in primate species.
  • The occurrence of infanticide in primate species is influenced by various ecological and social factors such as resource availability and population density. In environments where resources are scarce or competition is high, infanticide can be a strategy for ensuring that surviving infants receive sufficient care and resources. Additionally, social hierarchies play a role; males may resort to infanticide as a means of establishing dominance or reducing competition for mates within their groups. These factors create a complex interplay that drives the incidence of this behavior across different primate species.

Related terms

Reproductive Strategy:

The overall plan or method an organism uses to reproduce and ensure the survival of its offspring, which can involve behaviors like infanticide.

Maternal Investment: The time, energy, and resources that a mother invests in raising her offspring, which can be affected by threats like infanticide.

Sexual Selection:

A mode of natural selection where individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than others to obtain mates, influencing reproductive behaviors like infanticide.