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The evolution of same-sex sexual behaviour in mammals

Author

Listed:
  • José M. Gómez

    (Dpto de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC)
    Universidad de Granada)

  • A. Gónzalez-Megías

    (Universidad de Granada
    Universidad de Granada)

  • M. Verdú

    (Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC-UV-GV))

Abstract

Same-sex sexual behaviour has attracted the attention of many scientists working in disparate areas, from sociology and psychology to behavioural and evolutionary biology. Since it does not contribute directly to reproduction, same-sex sexual behaviour is considered an evolutionary conundrum. Here, using phylogenetic analyses, we explore the evolution of same-sex sexual behaviour in mammals. According to currently available data, this behaviour is not randomly distributed across mammal lineages, but tends to be particularly prevalent in some clades, especially primates. Ancestral reconstruction suggests that same-sex sexual behaviour may have evolved multiple times, with its appearance being a recent phenomenon in most mammalian lineages. Our phylogenetically informed analyses testing for associations between same-sex sexual behaviour and other species characteristics suggest that it may play an adaptive role in maintaining social relationships and mitigating conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • José M. Gómez & A. Gónzalez-Megías & M. Verdú, 2023. "The evolution of same-sex sexual behaviour in mammals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-41290-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41290-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brendan P. Zietsch & Morgan J. Sidari & Abdel Abdellaoui & Robert Maier & Niklas Långström & Shengru Guo & Gary W. Beecham & Eden R. Martin & Alan R. Sanders & Karin J. H. Verweij, 2021. "Genomic evidence consistent with antagonistic pleiotropy may help explain the evolutionary maintenance of same-sex sexual behaviour in humans," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(9), pages 1251-1258, September.
    2. Hannah E. R. West & Isabella Capellini, 2016. "Male care and life history traits in mammals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Brendan P. Zietsch & Morgan J. Sidari & Abdel Abdellaoui & Robert Maier & Niklas Långström & Shengru Guo & Gary W. Beecham & Eden R. Martin & Alan R. Sanders & Karin J. H. Verweij, 2021. "Author Correction: Genomic evidence consistent with antagonistic pleiotropy may help explain the evolutionary maintenance of same-sex sexual behaviour in humans," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(9), pages 1259-1259, September.
    4. Geoff R. MacFarlane & Simon P. Blomberg & Gisela Kaplan & Lesley J. Rogers, 2007. "Same-sex sexual behavior in birds: expression is related to social mating system and state of development at hatching," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 18(1), pages 21-33, January.
    5. Halevi, Gali & Moed, Henk & Bar-Ilan, Judit, 2017. "Suitability of Google Scholar as a source of scientific information and as a source of data for scientific evaluation—Review of the Literature," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 823-834.
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