Insights into the evolution of social systems and species from baboon studies.

Julia Fischer ,Michael L Wilson ,James P Higham ,S Peter Henzi ,Thore J Bergman ,Caroline Ross ,Veronika Staedele ,Joan B Silk ,Gisela H Kopp ,Noah Snyder‐Mackler ,Robert M Seyfarth ,Kurt Hammerschmidt ,Joël Fagot ,Sarah Elton ,Alecia J Carter ,Jeffrey Rogers ,Sascha Knauf ,Jacinta C Beehner ,Susan C Alberts ,Christian Roos ,Maria Joana Ferreira Da Silva ,Larissa Swedell ,Clifford J Jolly ,Louise Barrett ,Anthony Collins ,Dietmar Zinner

doi:10.7554/elife.50989

Abstract

Baboons, members of the genus Papio, comprise six closely related species distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southwest Arabia. The species exhibit more ecological flexibility and a wider range of social systems than many other primates. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the natural history of baboons and highlights directions for future research. We suggest that baboons can serve as a valuable model for complex evolutionary processes, such as speciation and hybridization. The evolution of baboons has been heavily shaped by climatic changes and population expansion and fragmentation in the African savanna environment, similar to the processes that acted during human evolution. With accumulating long-term data, and new data from previously understudied species, baboons are ideally suited for investigating the links between sociality, health, longevity and reproductive success. To achieve these aims, we propose a closer integration of studies at the proximate level, including functional genomics, with behavioral and ecological studies.

Highlights

Humans have been captivated by baboons for thousands of years: from ancient Egypt, where the god of wisdom, Thoth, was depicted with a baboon head, to the mid-19th century when Charles Darwin remarked, "He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke" (Darwin, 1838)
We propose an approach that integrates field observations and carefully designed field experiments with cutting-edge measures of genomic variation, gene expression, non-invasive endocrinology and immunology
The fact that baboons have been studied in a wide range of habitats at sites across Africa for several decades make them an informative example to investigate how populations of large mammals respond to environmental diversity and change

Summary

Introduction

Humans have been captivated by baboons for thousands of years: from ancient Egypt, where the god of wisdom, Thoth, was depicted with a baboon head, to the mid-19th century when Charles Darwin remarked, "He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke" (Darwin, 1838).

Results

Conclusion