FYI: Findings

Steven Veach

Standing on the highest rung of the social ladder has its benefits, but it comes with drawbacks like increased stress — at least in the animal kingdom, according to a team of biologists led by associate research scholar Laurence Gesquiere and professor emeritus Jeanne Altmann. In a nine-year study of savannah baboons in Kenya, the authors found that high-ranking males had more testosterone and lower stress-hormone levels than other males, with one significant exception: The highest-ranking “alpha males” had much higher levels of stress hormone than their lower-ranking counterparts. The finding, published in Science July 15, suggests that “being at the very top may be more costly than previously thought.”

0 Responses

Join the conversation

Plain text

Full name and Princeton affiliation (if applicable) are required for all published comments. For more information, view our commenting policy. Responses are limited to 500 words for online and 250 words for print consideration.

Related News

Newsletters.
Get More From PAW In Your Inbox.

Learn More

Title complimentary graphics