Final answer:
Mounting in baboons is a display behavior used to assert dominance, prevent physical confrontation, and communicate fighting ability, saving energy and reducing the risk of injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mounting as an expression of dominance in baboons is part of a range of display behaviors that animals use to assert dominance without engaging in physical confrontation, which can lead to injury or death. Display behaviors communicate to other animals that they should stay away, which helps in territorial defense and reducing the frequency and severity of actual fights. While male gorillas might pound their chests or thump the ground to show aggression, mounting in baboons is believed to serve a similar purpose.
These displays of aggression, including mounting, not only express the willingness to fight but might also allow for the assessment of an opponent’s fighting ability, serving as a mechanism to reduce the need for actual combat. It's noteworthy that while aggressive displays are vital in communication and establishing hierarchies, they're also energy-efficient and safer compared to physical altercations. Thus, mounting behavior in baboons accommodates both the social structure and the physical well-being of the animals.