Final answer:
Permanent male to female association in primates can be explained by the mate-guarding hypothesis, male-assistance hypothesis, and female-enforcement hypothesis, which all suggest various evolutionary advantages. Social strategies in primates also involve females being sexually assertive and selecting male partners for reasons beyond mere dominance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves understanding why there is a permanent male to female association among many primates. The underlying reasons for this association are complex, involving various evolutionary advantages. One explanation is the mate-guarding hypothesis, which suggests that males stay with females to prevent other males from mating with them, thereby ensuring their own reproductive success. Another theory is the male-assistance hypothesis, where males help rear offspring, resulting in more and healthier offspring. A third explanation is the female-enforcement hypothesis, where females ensure that the male does not have other offspring that might compete with her own young. Additionally, research reflects that female primates are sexually assertive and competitive, often choosing to mate with male 'friends' over aggressive or dominant males, indicating cooperative strategies in primates that extend beyond mere competition for resources.