The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a scientific journal. A new study of a colony of meerkats provides insights into the effects of dominance on a male meerkat’s levels of testosterone. The study showed that the dominant male of the meerkat colony had blood levels of testosterone that were, on average, about double those of the colony’s non- dominant males. Alpha, or dominant, male dogs also have higher levels of testosterone than nondominant males. The study also found that the male offspring of dominant male meerkats were born with higher testosterone levels than male offspring of non-dominant males.




The first clear flaw in the argument is the population size itself. We are not told what the sample size is for conducting the study and obtaining the averages. The absence of the appropriate sample size can mislead the average testosterone levels of meerkats. Supposing the study used two meerkats for the study having different testosterone levels. One measuring at 100 and the other at 300. With the average of the study being 150, the range that has been occupied along with the standard deviation is not enough to qualify a statement that the average will be greater than non-dominant males. As such, by obtaining multiple samples for both dominant and non-dominant males, and evaluating using a normal distribution, a clear statistical analysis can be presented.
Another flaw in the argument is the comparison of dogs with meerkats. Utilizing another piece of research for this meerkat study will construe the results as the dog study is taken out of context. Additionally, juxtaposing dogs and meerkats is inappropriate due to the variation in the species which further results in the variation in the biology. Assuming that alpha dogs have high-testosterone levels ; even without the presence of factual data; it is still not enough to qualify that meerkats follow the same biology, since meerkats do not belong in the same hierarchical class as dogs. However, to improve the substantiality of the comparison, if the data is collected from a different meerkat colony or even worst-case scenario from animals in the same hierarchical class, then the comparison is more justified.
Besides this, the study also provides an uncertain fact regarding the offspring of dominant meerkats. By suggesting that offspring of meerkat have high testosterone level at birth is both incomplete and unjustified. This is because testosterone levels change over time due to biological as well as environmental factor which may include nutrition. Additionally, since offspring have to do with a male as well as a female, the testosterone level could also be affected by the female meerkat. To improve the argument then, it will be necessary to research on the effect female meerkats have on the offspring when compared to the male. Additionally, research may also be done on testosterone levels of females and how it can affect the offspring. The result of this will give a broader perspective of the true nature of the dominance of male meerkats.
In conclusion, the letter’s conclusion that higher dominance is related to higher testosterone levels in this meerkat colony is uncertain and unclear. Due to the lack of evidence with respect to population size, the inaccurate comparisons to dogs and also due to the negligence of other factors that may affect testosterone levels, the argument is considered unconvincing and flawed.