Reproductive Market Values Explain Post-reproductive Lifespans in Men

Lucio Vinicius; Andrea Bamberg Migliano

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.015

Reproductive Market Values Explain Post-reproductive Lifespans in Men

Trends Ecol Evol. 2016 Mar;31(3):172-175. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.015. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Authors

Lucio Vinicius¹, Andrea Bamberg Migliano²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK.

PMID: 26774275
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.015

Abstract

Post-reproductive lifespans (PRLSs) of men vary across traditional societies. We argue that if sexual selection operates on male age-dependent resource availability (or 'reproductive market values') the result is variation in male late-life reproduction across subsistence systems. This perspective highlights the uniqueness of PRLS in both women and men.

Keywords: ageing; hunter–gatherers; last reproduction; men; menopause; pastoralists.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Humans
Life Style*
Longevity*
Male
Middle Aged
Reproduction*
Selection, Genetic*