|  A key element in the life of any individual is to be able to reproduce.
Reproductive strategies are believed to be one of the major forces that shape the
variability we observe in social systems of non-human primates as well as in humans.
The strategies available to individuals vary depending on ecological conditions,
the distribution of potential mates, and the competitive regime.
Moreover, conflicts emerge between males and females due to sex differences in physiology and parental investment.
Apes live under a variety of social systems in the wild, including monogamous pairs, one-male polygynous groups, and
very large multi-male multi-female groups. Apes are therefore ideal for testing many models and predictions concerning
reproductive strategies. Additionally, variation exists among different populations of the same species,
making it possible to test hypotheses for the influence of ecological conditions, reproductive strategies, and demography.
 To address questions concerning reproductive strategies in the context of different social systems, we have adopted a
multidisciplinary approach that combines field observations, demographic analyses, modelling, and non-invasive sampling
for hormonal and genetic analysis. Such approaches enable us to determine the time of ovulation, to ascertain paternity, and to estimate the lifetime reproductive success of these long-lived species.
Current topics of research include:
- behavioral studies of male-male competition, female choice, and sexual conflict
- analysis of factors influencing reproductive success for males and females
- genetic analysis of paternity, relatedness, and dispersal
- modelling factors that influence lifetime reproductive success
- non-invasive analysis of hormones and other physiological parameters
This research, in combination with our focus on ecological variation in great apes,
enables us to take a comprehensive approach towards understanding the
variability of social systems and evolution of sociality.
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