The roles filled by females increase the survival of their species through several key functions related to reproduction, resource competition, social structure, and offspring care:
- Resource competition and offspring care: Females often compete for ecological resources such as food, nest sites, and protection, which are critical for raising their offspring. This competition ensures they secure enough resources to maximize their reproductive success and offspring survival. Female competition can involve dominance, territoriality, and social behaviors that help secure these resources
- Social structure and cooperation: In many species, females form strong social bonds and cooperative groups that enhance survival. For example, in lion prides, related lionesses coordinate hunting and defend territory together, which improves food acquisition and protection of the group. They also collectively raise and teach cubs essential survival skills, ensuring the continuity of the pride
- Increased longevity and survival: Females in many species tend to live longer than males, which can contribute to species survival by maintaining experienced individuals who support offspring and kin. Female longevity is linked to better immune responses and lower risk-taking behaviors compared to males, increasing their survival even under harsh conditions
- Natal philopatry and kin cooperation: Females often remain in or near their natal groups, sharing resources like shelter and care with their mothers and kin. This philopatry enhances survival through cooperative behaviors and resource sharing, which benefits both mothers and daughters and promotes sociality
- Dominance hierarchies and reproductive success: Female dominance hierarchies in social species regulate access to resources and mates, ensuring that the most competitive females reproduce successfully. This social organization can increase the overall fitness and survival of offspring within the group
In summary, females contribute to species survival by securing resources critical for reproduction, forming cooperative social groups, protecting and nurturing offspring, living longer to support kin, and maintaining social structures that optimize reproductive success. These roles collectively enhance the survival and continuity of their species.
