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Offspring born in the last four years before a female primate’s death are more likely to die at a young age, before their mother dies, research finds.
If these kids make it, the negative effects of losing their mother will reach across generations, lessening the survival of their future children as well.
Researchers used data collected across decades from seven species of primates from multiple regions of the world. Knowing which mothers had died and when, researchers started with a look at the survival of these doomed mothers’ offspring.
Matthew Zipple, a PhD candidate in biology at Duke University, used data collected across decades on seven species of primates from multiple regions of the world. Knowing which mothers had died and when, researchers started by looking at the survival of these doomed mothers’ offspring.