How did the Krummhörn elite males achieve above-average reproductive success?

Abstract

The wealthy elite males of nineteenth-century Krummhörn (Ostfriesland, Germany) achieved an above-average reproductive success. Membership in the elite class was determined from a list of the 300 richest men in the Ostfriesland district compiled by authorities in 1812. The main components establishing the link between cultural success and reproductive success are

• 1. differences in the number of offspring owing to differences both in time spent in fecund marriage (mating success) and in rate of reproduction;

• 2. differences in the probabilities of one’s adult offspring marrying locally vs. emigrating unmarried owing to differential ability to allocate resources that enhance the “social placement” of adult offspring; and

• 3. differences in the probability of total reproductive failure (lineage extinction).

Contrary to what might be expected, infant survivorship was lowest amongst the richest families. We conclude that to a great extent females’ reproductive decisions contribute to the greater reproductive success of the elite males.