biology

Social monogamy in mammalian species

Social monogamy in mammalian species is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Social monogamy in mammalian species rather than just read about it. In short: Social monogamy in mammals is defined as sexually mature adult organisms living in pairs. While there are many definitions of social monogamy, this social organization can be found in invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals, including humans.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

Social monogamy in mammals is defined as sexually mature adult organisms living in pairs. While there are many definitions of social monogamy, this social organization can be found in invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals, including humans. It should not be confused with genetic monogamy, which refers to two individuals who only reproduce with one another. Social monogamy does not describe the sexual interactions or patterns of reproduction between monogamous pairs; rather it strictly refers to the patterns of their living conditions. Rather, sexual and genetic monogamy describe reproductive patterns. It is possible for a species to be both genetically monogamous and socially monogamous but it is more likely for species to practice social monogamy and not genetic monogamy. Social monogamy consists of, but is not limited to: sharing the same territory; obtaining food resources; and raising offspring together. A unique characteristic of monogamy is that unlike in polygamous species, parents share parenting tasks. Even though their tasks are shared, monogamy does not define the degree of paternal investment in the breeding of the young.

Only ~3–5% of all mammalian species are socially monogamous, including some species that mate for life and ones that mate for an extended period of time. Monogamy is more common among primates: about 29% of primate species are socially monogamous. Lifelong monogamy is very rare; however, it is exemplified by species such as the Prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). A vast majority of monogamous mammals practice serial social monogamy where another male or female is accepted into a new partnership in the case of a partner's death. In addition, there are some species that exhibit short-term monogamy which involves partnership termination while one's partner is still alive; however, it usually lasts for at least one breeding season. Monogamy usually does not occur in groups where there is a high abundance of females, but rather in ones where females occupy small ranges. Socially monogamous mammals live at significantly lower population densities than do solitary species. Additionally, most mammals exhibit male-biased dispersal; however, most monogamous mammalian species display female-biased dispersal. Some socially monogamous species exhibit pair bonds that occur between two sexually mature organisms, have an affective component, be specific to the individual, last longer that one reproductive cycle, and be quantifiable in strength or quality of relationship. Pair bonding can exhibit (but does not have to) sexual behaviors and/or bi-parental care. Pair bonding cannot exhibit, however, organisms that cannot identify one another in a pair, end in the death of a mate or separation from the mate directly after mating, lack of distress when separated from the mate, or lack sociality. Not all socially monogamous species exhibit pair bonding, but all pair bonding animals practice social monogamy. These characteristics aid in identifying a species as being socially monogamous. At the biological level, social monogamy affects the neurobiology of the organism through hormone pathways such as vasopressin and oxytocin. Vasopressin is related to the distress hormone an organism feels when separated from their mate while oxytocin is associated with the affective component of the social interactions between mates. These biological factors give way to a genetic component that evolution could act on via selection to evolve social monogamy in animals.

Types of social monogamy

Facultative monogamy Facultative monogamy, or Type I monogamy, occurs when the male is not fully committed to one female, but he chooses to stay with her because there are no other mating opportunities available to him. In this type of monogamy, species rarely spend time with their families, and there is a lack of paternal care towards the offspring. Elephant shrews (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus and Elephantulus rufescens), Agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata), Grey duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia), and Pacaranas (Dinomys branickii) are some of the most common examples of the mammalian species that display Type I monogamy. In addition, these species are characterized to occupy low areas over a large expand of land.

Obligate monogamy Obligate monogamy, or Type II monogamy, is practiced by species that live in overlapping territories, where females cannot rear their young without the help of their partners. Species such as Indris (Indri indri), Night monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus), African dormice (Notomys alexis), and Hutias (Capromys melanurus) are observed as family groups who live together with a number of generations of their young. There are several factors that are associated with Type II monogamy:

high paternal investment when offspring mature in the family setting delayed sexual maturation observed in juveniles that remain in the family group juveniles contributing greatly to the rearing of their siblings when retained in the family group.

Group living One of the key factors of monogamous pairings is group living. Advantages to living in groups include, but are not limited to:

Susceptibility to predation: animals such as the common dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula) and tamarin (such as Saguinus oedipus) may benefit from such group living by having alarm calls in response to an approaching predator. Food acquisition: it is considerably easier for animals to hunt in a group rather than by themselves. For this reason, mammals such as dwarf mongooses, marmosets and tamarins hunt in groups and share their food among their family members or members of the group. Localization of resources: in some species, such as Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), localization of an adequate lodge area (a pond or a stream) is more beneficial in a group setting. This group living arrangement gives beavers a better chance to find a high quality place to live by searching for it in a group rather than by one individual. These group living advantages, however, do not describe why monogamy, and not polygyny, has evolved in the species mentioned above. Some possible conditions which may account for cases of monogamous behavior in mammalian species may have to do with:

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Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Social monogamy in mammalian species

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Social monogamy in mammalian species claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Social monogamy in mammalian species before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Social monogamy in mammalian species ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Social monogamy in mammalian species

In research: Social monogamy in mammalian species appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Social monogamy in mammalian species in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Social monogamy in mammalian species is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Animal sexuality, Mammalian sexuality, Monogamy, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Social monogamy in mammalian species outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Social monogamy in mammalian species in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is Social monogamy in mammalian species in simple terms?

Why does Social monogamy in mammalian species matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Social monogamy in mammalian species?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

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It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Social monogamy in mammalian species.