New research from the University of California suggests that same-sex behaviour might contribute to the natural selection process in some species.
The study, conducted by Dr Nathan Bailey and Dr Marlene Zuk from the Department of Biology, indicates that instances of same-sex behaviour occur across species more frequently than previously thought.
‘The key findings of the paper were that same-sex sexual behavior occurs across a variety of animal groups, from insects to birds to mammals to amphibians, but the behaviors themselves differ greatly and depend on the context of the interaction,’ explained Dr Bailey.
‘For example, male-male courtship in damselflies, which might be a result of mistaken identity, has different causes and consequences than, say, male-male sexual behavior in Bottlenose Dolphins, which may contribute to group bonding.’
Instances of same-sex behaviour in animals was examined across a number of different contexts, including in the wild, in captivity and in the laboratory.
African bat bugs, bonobos, marine snails, common toads, bottlenose dolphins and Laysan albatross all exhibit varying degrees of same-sex tendencies in the wild, with the encounters creating long lasting bonds or provides some species with skills for later opposite-sex copulation.
In captivity, a small percentage of rams exhibit same-sex behaviour, which includes copulation, while the chinstrap penguin is likely to form a lasting same-sex bond.
‘The evolutionary consequences of same-sex behavior will truly depend on the organism,’ Dr Bailey stressed.
‘In some species, like the Laysan Albatross, same-sex behavior can sometimes be beneficial to an individual, but in other species, it may not have any adaptive value. So the key point is that it’s difficult to make a generalization because same-sex behavior is so different across species. But that just gives scientists more reason to study it!’
This study comes in light of recent news reports which tell of a pair of male penguins at New York’s Central Park Zoo incubating and successfully hatching an egg along with reports of a gay elephant at a Polish zoo, although the latter may be attributed to the fact that the mammal hasn’t yet reached proper sexual maturity.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
