Homosexuality and evolution

[forrestkc]

I didn't read all 8 pages, so I don't think anyone has mentioned this.

I read about a study (this was at least a few years ago) about sexuality in animals. The study basically stated that in a species is in threat of over population or is overpopulated the percentage of homosexuality rises, and once the population reduces, so does homosexuality.

I'd try to find this article again, but I'm on a government computer and a lot of news websites and such are blocked to me.

That makes no sense to me. the more the population the more chance there is for procreation.

....Unless boredom sets in.

I think the hypothesis for the study would be homosexuality could be a genetic adaption to overpopulation.

[Guest shiloh357]

I didn't read all 8 pages, so I don't think anyone has mentioned this.

I read about a study (this was at least a few years ago) about sexuality in animals. The study basically stated that in a species is in threat of over population or is overpopulated the percentage of homosexuality rises, and once the population reduces, so does homosexuality.

I'd try to find this article again, but I'm on a government computer and a lot of news websites and such are blocked to me.

Well there is no homosexualilty in the animal kingdom. I realize there is a lot of junk science out there promoting the idea that animals can be gay, but it just ain't so.

Do you remember where you got that article from?

[Lesta]

I didn't read all 8 pages, so I don't think anyone has mentioned this.

I read about a study (this was at least a few years ago) about sexuality in animals. The study basically stated that in a species is in threat of over population or is overpopulated the percentage of homosexuality rises, and once the population reduces, so does homosexuality.

I'd try to find this article again, but I'm on a government computer and a lot of news websites and such are blocked to me.

That makes no sense to me. the more the population the more chance there is for procreation.

....Unless boredom sets in.

I think the hypothesis for the study would be homosexuality could be a genetic adaption to overpopulation.

That's what I was trying to say.

I'm not very good at explaining things.

[Lesta]

I didn't read all 8 pages, so I don't think anyone has mentioned this.

I read about a study (this was at least a few years ago) about sexuality in animals. The study basically stated that in a species is in threat of over population or is overpopulated the percentage of homosexuality rises, and once the population reduces, so does homosexuality.

I'd try to find this article again, but I'm on a government computer and a lot of news websites and such are blocked to me.

Well there is no homosexualilty in the animal kingdom. I realize there is a lot of junk science out there promoting the idea that animals can be gay, but it just ain't so.

Do you remember where you got that article from?

I disagree with your first sentence, but I'm not going to argue about it.

This was probably over 3 years ago, so no, I don't remember where I read it. If you did a search you might find it, but I don't know. *shrug*

[Guest shiloh357]

I didn't read all 8 pages, so I don't think anyone has mentioned this.

I read about a study (this was at least a few years ago) about sexuality in animals. The study basically stated that in a species is in threat of over population or is overpopulated the percentage of homosexuality rises, and once the population reduces, so does homosexuality.

I'd try to find this article again, but I'm on a government computer and a lot of news websites and such are blocked to me.

Well there is no homosexualilty in the animal kingdom. I realize there is a lot of junk science out there promoting the idea that animals can be gay, but it just ain't so.

Do you remember where you got that article from?

I disagree with your first sentence, but I'm not going to argue about it.

This was probably over 3 years ago, so no, I don't remember where I read it. If you did a search you might find it, but I don't know. *shrug*

All I will say Lesta is that I have a cousin who is a zoologist. For 20 some odd years, he has had to combat the same misperception about animal sexuality. He has to explain that real animal experts have never found ONE case of genuine homosexuality in animals.

What a lot of people do is project human sexuality on to animals and you just can't do that. I had a dog who as neudered as a puppy and still tried to climb on the backside of other male dogs. It is a means of trying to gain dominance to be the alpha male in the pack, it is not a homosexual trait. Its no different than why they lick you or always want to walk out in front of you. Same is true for other species of animals as well.

[forrestkc]

Well there is no homosexualilty in the animal kingdom. I realize there is a lot of junk science out there promoting the idea that animals can be gay, but it just ain't so.

I don't think most people would regard National Geographic as a purveyor of "junk science":

But, actually, some same-sex birds do do it. So do beetles, sheep, fruit bats, dolphins, and orangutans. Zoologists are discovering that homosexual and bisexual activity is not unknown within the animal kingdom.

Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins at New York's Central Park Zoo have been inseparable for six years now. They display classic pair-bonding behavior

[Guest shiloh357]

Well there is no homosexualilty in the animal kingdom. I realize there is a lot of junk science out there promoting the idea that animals can be gay, but it just ain't so.

I don't think most people would regard National Geographic as a purveyor of "junk science":

But, actually, some same-sex birds do do it. So do beetles, sheep, fruit bats, dolphins, and orangutans. Zoologists are discovering that homosexual and bisexual activity is not unknown within the animal kingdom.

Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins at New York's Central Park Zoo have been inseparable for six years now. They display classic pair-bonding behavior

[nebula]

Well, if that's the case, it goes back to my quesiton about what homosexuality does to a population.

Decrease.

However, we have to be careful about comparing ourselves to the animal population this way. Some animals in an overpopulated situation will begin eating their young. Not even China has advocated baby cannibalism.

[forrestkc]

My cousin would be interested in this. He has debunked similar artilces in the past.

Does your cousin accept evolution as a fundamental law of biology?

Anyway, I think there are two different factors at work here.

1. Are their instances of animals being sexually attracted to other animals of the same sex?

2. Are their instances of animals having the kinds of emotional bonds that people can have towards each other?

The first is documented. The second would obviously simply be projection.

[nebula]

Well, in looking at the article, the case is brought that same sex behavior in animals isn't necessarily about gender-preference. It could be a sexual drive with no where else to go. It could be a dominance issue. Etc.