Intrasexual selection and male mating strategies in baboons and macaques

Sex differences in human mate preferences: Evolutionary hypotheses tested in 37 cultures

“…Most generally, these results suggest that selective preferences in mating are not the sole province of females (Anderson 1986;Berenstain & Wade 1983;Robinson 1982;Smuts 1987), as is implied by some evolutionary accounts that stress female choosiness. Human males and females both express preferences, and it is clear that there are powerful selective advantages for doing so.…”

“…Comparative analyses clearly support the male's preference for mature (proven) female mates, and the female's preference for supportive (kind and understanding?) and/or strong and dominant males (Anderson 1986;Berenstain & Wade 1983;Goodall 1986;Hrdy 1981;de Waal 1982).…”

Dominance rank of adult females and mating competition in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains, China

“…Thirdly, the dominance ranks among females within OMUs are propitious to maintain group cohesion and energy requirements. Furthermore, it was presumed that high-ranking individuals possess greater reproductive potential and that high-ranking females should be more attractive as mating partners than other females within the OMU, affecting the mating strategies of others [22][23][24]. Thus we predicted that high-ranking females gained more mating benefits than low-ranking females within the OMUs of this polygynous species.…”

Alternative reproductive tactics in primates

“…Dominant males may thus show less sexual interest in nulliparous females, which are typically less fertile and less adequate mothers than older, experienced females (Altmann 1980), by comparison with females who have already produced at least one infant (baboons, mandrills, Table 15.1). Dominant males may also prefer to mate with high-ranking females (review in Berenstain & Wade 1983), which may be more fertile and able to invest more in resulting offspring . Lower ranking males, on the other hand, for whom choice of mates is limited by male-male competition, should be more likely to mate when the chance arises, even if the chances of fertilization are lower.…”