Population genetic insights into the social organization of Guinea baboons (Papio papio): Evidence for female‐biased dispersal

A groundbreaking study on Guinea baboons (Papio papio) in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, reveals female-biased dispersal—a rare pattern among baboon species. Contrary to the typical male dispersal observed in closely related baboons, this research demonstrates that female Guinea baboons disperse while males remain philopatric, mirroring the social structure of hamadryas baboons and human hunter-gatherers. The study analyzed 165 individuals using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA sequencing, uncovering higher genetic structuring in males, which aligns with their philopatric behavior. This finding challenges long-held assumptions about baboon social dynamics and underscores the species' unique cooperative social organization, offering new insights into the evolutionary processes shaping complex societies.

Kopp, G. H., Fischer, J., Patzelt, A., Roos, C., & Zinner, D. (2015). Population genetic insights into the social organization of Guinea baboons (Papio papio): Evidence for female‐biased dispersal. American Journal of Primatology, 77(8), 878–889. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22415