Maternally mediated effects of early-life adversity on offspring trajectories in mandrills
Evolution, Anthropology
Final Report Abstract
Early life adversity (‘ELA’) can have lasting effects on development influencing both survival and physical growth in wild animal populations, with maternal care playing a crucial role in shaping these trajectories and potentially buffering the impact of various adversities. While recent evidence suggests that ELA can also have intergenerational effects – where a mother’s early experiences affect the fitness of her own offspring – the mechanisms driving these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, using more than 10 years of demographic and behavioral data from wild mandrills, we analyzed how ELA influences early survival and physical development, and shapes mother-infant relationships, with a particular focus on how the loss of a mother during female’s early development determines her own maternal behavior later in life. The results showed that, first, while the consequences of cumulative ELA were not apparent during the entire early life period (<4 years), they became evident when specifically focusing on the first year of life. Remarkably, these findings identified a potential link between ELA and survival during adulthood, as ELA had a more pronounced impact on physical development than on early survival. Second, the study of variation in mother-infant relationships showed that these relationships change during the first year of life and that maternal traits, particularly rank and age, strongly shape caregiving behaviors. Moreover, the results showed that mothers who experienced maternal death during their own development exhibited different caregiving behaviors toward their offspring, suggesting a potential pathway for the implementation of intergenerational effects of ELA. Finally, the results of this study repeatedly demonstrated significant differences between the sexes, underscoring separate life history trajectories of each sex, which start to develop as early as during the first year of life. This work extends our understanding on how adverse conditions during early life can influence individual development. Furthermore, it emphasizes the relevance of integrating comprehensive behavioral data on motheroffspring pairs to further unravel these complex relationships and better understand of how social behaviors may influence these dynamics.
Publications
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“L’écologie des échecs de reproduction chez les femelles mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)” 33ème colloque de la Société Francophone De Primatologie (SFDP), Saint-Etienne, France - National Conference
Roura-Torres, B., Amblard-Rambert, P. & Charpentier M.J.E.
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Stillbirth of a mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) in the wild: perinatal behaviors and delivery sequences. Primates, 65(2), 75-80.
Roura-Torres, Berta; Amblard-Rambert, Paul; Lepou, Pascal; Kappeler, Peter M. & Charpentier, Marie J. E.
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Variation in mother-offspring relationships and its determinants in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)” Behaviour, Bielefield, Germany - International Conference. 2023
Roura-Torres, B., Kappeler, P.M. & Charpentier, M.J.E.
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“Les males mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) peuvent à la fois menacer et protéger les enfants”. Société Francophone de Primatologie, Toulouse, France - National Conference
Roura-Torres, B., Smit N. & Charpentier, M.J.E.
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“Male mandrills as both a threat and protection to infants”. European Federation of Primatology, Lausane, Switzerland - International Conference
Roura-Torres, B., Smit N. & Charpentier, M.J.E.
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A journey toward independence in young mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx): the intertwined effects of early life adversity and maternal investment. PhD thesis, University of Göttingen
Roura-Torres B.
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Toward independence: maternal social status and experience shape mother–infant relationships in mandrills. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 79(3).
Roura-Torres, Berta; Baniel, Alice; Cryer, Anna; Sauvadet, Loïc; De Pastors, Mélyssa; Havill, George; Kreyer, Mélodie; Meric de Bellefon, Jade; Abaga, Steven; Harté, Mélanie; Kappeler, Peter M. & Charpentier, Marie J. E.
