Lions mane
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers for "lions mane"
Consensus Meter
The Lion's Mane: A Multifaceted Exploration
Lion's Mane in African Lions: Sexual Selection and Environmental Adaptation
Sexual Selection and Mane Characteristics
The mane of the African lion (Panthera leo) is a prominent feature that plays a significant role in sexual selection. Mane darkness is an indicator of a male lion's nutrition and testosterone levels, which influences both female choice and male-male competition . Dark-maned males tend to have longer reproductive lifespans and higher offspring survival rates, although they also face higher surface temperatures, abnormal sperm, and reduced food intake during hot months. Mane length, on the other hand, signals fighting success and primarily influences male-male assessment.
Evolutionary History and Group Living
The evolutionary history of the lion's mane suggests that the first lions were maneless, with the maned form appearing around 320,000 to 190,000 years ago. This trait likely provided a selective advantage, enabling the maned lions to replace earlier maneless forms throughout Africa and western Eurasia. Group living behavior, which likely evolved before lions expanded out of Africa, has been a prevailing trait in subsequent populations.
Thermal Implications and Mane Morphology
The thermal cost of the mane has been a topic of debate. While some studies suggest that the mane increases body surface temperatures and leads to higher sperm abnormalities, recent research indicates no significant difference in core body temperatures between males and females. Additionally, mane length and color do not appear to influence 24-hour mean body temperatures, suggesting that the mane may not impose a significant thermal cost. However, dominant male lions frequent water points more often than females, possibly to facilitate increased evaporative cooling.
Protective Role of the Mane
The protective role of the lion's mane has been assumed but not conclusively proven. Studies show no compelling evidence that the mane confers effective protection against wounding, as injuries to the mane area are not associated with higher mortality. The mane may have initially evolved for protection but now serves more as a sexually selected ornament.
Lion's Mane Mushroom: Culinary and Medicinal Benefits
Nutritional and Bioactive Compounds
Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a traditional edible mushroom known for its rich nutritional composition, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and biologically active compounds such as polysaccharides and phenolic compounds. These components contribute to its emerging status as a potent dietary supplement.
Cognitive and Health Benefits
Research highlights the positive impact of Lion's Mane on brain health, nerve recovery, mood stabilization, gastric health, heart health, blood sugar regulation, cancer prevention, and immunity enhancement. A systematic review of in-vivo studies on dietary mushroom supplementation, including Lion's Mane, found that it may have beneficial effects on cognitive impairment. Twenty-two animal studies and two human trials reported positive results on cognitive outcomes, suggesting potential medicinal benefits.
Anticancer Properties
Lion's Mane Mushroom also exhibits anticancer activities. Compounds isolated from the mushroom, such as hericerin A and hericerin, have been shown to significantly reduce cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. These findings suggest that Lion's Mane compounds could be suitable for potential cancer treatments.
Conclusion
The lion's mane, whether in the context of African lions or the Lion's Mane Mushroom, presents a fascinating subject of study. In lions, the mane plays a crucial role in sexual selection and may have evolved for protection, although its thermal implications remain debated. In the realm of mushrooms, Lion's Mane offers promising health benefits, particularly for cognitive and anticancer applications. As research continues, both forms of the lion's mane stand to contribute significantly to our understanding of natural selection and medicinal science.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Sexual Selection, Temperature, and the Lion's Mane
Evolution of the mane and group-living in the lion ( Panthera leo ): a review
Wounding, mortality and mane morphology in African lions, Panthera leo
A Systematic Review of in-vivo Studies on Dietary Mushroom Supplementation for Cognitive Impairment (P14-021-19).
Getting to the core: Internal body temperatures help reveal the ecological function and thermal implications of the lions’ mane
Of Lion Manes and Human Beards: Some Unusual Effects of the Interaction between Aggression and Sociality
Melanin, Nutrition, and the Lion's Mane
Do lions have manes? For children, generics are about kinds rather than quantities.
Isolation and identification of aromatic compounds in Lion's Mane Mushroom and their anticancer activities.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom- From Culinary to Medicine
Try another search
The ethical considerations of using AI in predictive policing.
The impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries and artistic expression.
The ethics and implications of deepfake technology in media and politics.
The ethics and implications of predictive analytics in insurance and healthcare decision-making.
Morphology of the human central nervous system
LeakyReLU