Female bonobos 'advertise' homosexual bonds

[PonderThis]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17117661


Sex between females is not uncommon for bonobos

Excerpt: "Female bonobos "advertise" their homosexual activity to important audiences, say scientists.

Researchers studying communication among the apes found that females made the most noise during sex if the "alpha female" was nearby.

Low-ranking females that were invited to have sex with high-ranking females would also call to tell other group members about the bond.

Experts suggest females communicate the encounters to boost their status.

The species Pan paniscus are referred to as the "erotic" or "promiscuous apes" because they regularly engage in sexual contact with both their own and the opposite sex.

"[Sex] is used to reduce stress and competition, develop affiliations, express and test social relationships and for reconciling conflicts and consoling victims in distress," explained Dr Zanna Clay, from Emory University in Atlanta, who has been studying vocalisations in the species for five years.

In order to understand more about communication among the apes, Dr Clay led an international team of researchers to observe a group at the Lola Ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.

Building on earlier work, their findings published in the journal Scientific Reports identified a pattern in the calls made by females during homosexual encounters.

"Using vocalisations, females only advertise sexual contacts with important group members," said Dr Clay, "It's all about climbing up the social ladder for female bonobos."

By invitation

The team found that calls were most likely to be made by lower-ranking females, particularly if they were "picked" by a higher-ranking female.

The females also appeared to consider their audience - calling more if the most important group member, the alpha female, was present.

"Bonobos appear to be highly aware of the dynamics governing their social worlds," said Dr Clay.

She suggests that the females have adopted the calls, usually associated with reproduction, as a strategic tool.

"As a low-ranked female, advertising [a] social-sexual bonding with another dominant group member may serve to strengthen their social position, and signal this to the alpha."

Unlike their close relatives, the chimpanzees, bonobo societies are not male-dominated. Dr Clay suggests that this may be due to the strong relationships between females.

"In bonobos, sexual interactions represent a powerful means to enable females to develop and maintain social relationships, and it is these bonds which lie at the heart of their raised status in bonobo society."

[bbqboy]

I thought this was about the candy.

[PonderThis]

I never heard it referred to as taffy before. I think I may have heard it referred to as candy though.



* Female bonobos have forward facing genitalia and often have face-to-face sexual contact with other females

* Despite being considerably more sexually active than chimpanzees, bonobos do not have more offspring

* Females become sexually mature at 12 years old but will engage in sexual activity from younger ages

* After a conflict, males may make genital contact with their rival, in order to diffuse the tension

[Simon Peter]

* After a conflict, males may make genital contact with their rival, in order to diffuse the tension

Genital contact with a rifle butt diffuses tension before the conflict.

[PonderThis]

You're twisted, Simon.

[Simon Peter]

Even in male/female confrontation a quick punt diffuses tension quite nicely and avoids conflict.

[Wonky]

There seems to be an obsession here with homosexual behavior.
And now we not only have dialog but a photo to add to the "fun".

But, I added my worthless comments, so I'm either the pot or the kettle. Would have best to have ignored this. Maybe I'll be a better man tomorrow. Maybe not.

[Simon Peter]

[chuck white]

So, what's the rules on posting monkey porn?

[PonderThis]

there seems to be an obsession here with homosexual behavior.

Well, yes. As long as we have forum participants rattling on about how "unnatural" homosexual behavior is in the natural world, it's good to bring these people back down to earth. Also, I see homophobia as a sort of rot that needs to be dug at and exposed, so that the wound may be aired out for all to see. When homophobia goes away, and gays, bisexuals, and whatever are all treated equally and have equal rights, these kinds of threads will go away. Until then, however, they're right on target. As evidenced by their popularity and viewership as well.

[Scrapper]

there seems to be an obsession here with homosexual behavior.

Well, yes. As long as we have forum participants rattling on about how "unnatural" homosexual behavior is in the natural world, it's good to bring these people back down to earth. Also, I see homophobia as a sort of rot that needs to be dug at and exposed, so that the wound may be aired out for all to see. When homophobia goes away, and gays, bisexuals, and whatever are all treated equally and have equal rights, these kinds of threads will go away. Until then, however, they're right on target. As evidenced by their popularity and viewership as well.

[Wonky]

there seems to be an obsession here with homosexual behavior.

Well, yes. As long as we have forum participants rattling on about how "unnatural" homosexual behavior is in the natural world, it's good to bring these people back down to earth. Also, I see homophobia as a sort of rot that needs to be dug at and exposed, so that the wound may be aired out for all to see. When homophobia goes away, and gays, bisexuals, and whatever are all treated equally and have equal rights, these kinds of threads will go away. Until then, however, they're right on target. As evidenced by their popularity and viewership as well.

So be it.
I do, after all, have the option of simply ignoring it. I just thought it curious that is seems to occupy so much attention.

[bbqboy]

we could always talk about candy bars.

[PonderThis]

It's not that I have any particular interest, but there's a larger theme here at work: As soon as we realize that as Americans we're more similar to each other than we are different, we can go on to realizing that as Americans we're more similar than different with everyone else on earth, too. Then, maybe real progress can be made.

[Wonky]

It's not that I have any particular interest, but there's a larger theme here at work: As soon as we realize that as Americans we're more similar to each other than we are different, we can go on to realizing that as Americans we're more similar than different with everyone else on earth, too. Then, maybe real progress can be made.

I never want to live in that world.

I like diversity, think it's healthy, and interesting.

I'm not "simular" to a gay guy in very important ways. We are different.
My skin color is white (pink really) and I don't want to be black. (Only because being Black in this culture is a pain in the rear)
I have no animosity toward Christians, I just ain't one of 'em, and don't want them making laws that promote their faith while restricting my freedoms.

We can have all kinds of differences and still find common ground in our respect for others.

Notice too, that some do not deserve respect. Our behavior, our utterances both verbal and written, our social values, all reveal who we are.

Notice too, that right here on the good 'ol RVF we have some who only react and never author any meaningful verbiage of their own. We don't want to live in that world either.
Reactionary attitudes are seldom positive.

So, Ponder, I don't agree with your sentiment, but understand your intentions are pointed to what you feel is valuable.

And, we argue in the best sense of the word. Trying to find "that better place" we agree that conduct is all important, even as I suggest that diversity is valuable.