Reproductive Behaviour

Erweiterte Fallstudien zu Verwandtschaft und Reproduktionstechnologien. Potenziale einer Ethnografie von Normalisierungsprozessen

by Stefan Beck

Co-authored with Michi Knecht, Maren Klotz, Nurhak Polat;
In: Zeitschrift für Volkskunde, 107, 2011/1, pp. 21–47

Female reproductive competition within families in rural Gambia

by Alexandra Alvergne

Many studies show that the extended human family can be helpful in raising offspring, with maternalgrandmothers, in... more Many studies show that the extended human family can be helpful in raising offspring, with maternalgrandmothers, in particular, improving offspring survival. However, less attention has been given to competition between female kin and co-residents. It has been argued that reproductive conflict between generations explains the evolution of menopause in cooperatively breeding species where females disperse,
and that older females are related to the offspring of younger females through their sons, whereas younger, incoming females are unrelated to older females. This means the pattern of help will be asymmetric, so older females lose in reproductive conflict and become ‘sterile helpers’. Here, we seek evidence for female reproductive competition using longitudinal demographic data from a rural Gambian population, and examine when women are helping or harming each other’s reproductive success. We find that older women benefit and younger women suffer costs of reproductive competition
with women in their compound. But the opposite is found for mothers and daughters; if mother and daughter’s reproductive spans overlap, the older woman reduces her reproduction if the younger woman (daughter) reproduces, whereas daughters’ fertility is unaffected by their mothers’ reproduction.
Married daughters are not generally co-resident with their mothers, so we find not only competition effects with co-resident females, but also with daughters who have dispersed. Dispersal varies across human societies, but our results suggest reproductive conflict could be influencing reproductive scheduling whatever the dispersal pattern. A cultural norm of late male marriage reduces paternal grandmother/ daughter-in-law reproductive overlap almost to zero in this population. We argue that cultural norms surrounding
residence and marriage are themselves cultural adaptations to reduce reproductive conflict between generations in human families.

Conventional tagging and acoustic telemetry of a small surgeonfish, Zebrasoma flavescens, in a structurally complex coral reef environment

by Jeremy T. Claisse

Claisse, J.T., T.B. Clark, B.D. Schumacher, S.A. McTee, M.E. Bushnell, C.K. Callan, C.W.  Laidley and J.D. Parrish (2011) Conventional tagging and acoustic telemetry of a small surgeonfish, Zebrasoma flavescens, in a structurally complex coral reef environment. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 91:185-201

Habitat- and sex-specific life history patterns of yellow tang Zebrasoma flavescens in Hawaii, USA

by Jeremy T. Claisse

Claisse JT, Kienzle M, Bushnell ME, Shafer DJ, Parrish JD (2009) Habitat- and sex-specific life history patterns of yellow tang Zebrasoma flavescens in Hawaii, USA. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 389:245-255

Lunar and seasonal patterns in fecundity of an indeterminate, multiple-spawning surgeonfish, the yellow tang Zebrasoma flavescens

by Jeremy T. Claisse

BUSHNELL, M. E., CLAISSE, J. T. and LAIDLEY, C. W. 2010. Lunar and seasonal patterns in fecundity of an indeterminate, multiple-spawning surgeonfish, the yellow tang Zebrasoma flavescens. Journal of Fish Biology, 76: 1343-1361

Egg hatchability in high Arctic breeding wader species Charadriiformes is not affected by determining incubation stage using the egg flotation technique

by Jeroen Reneerkens

Bird Study (2011), 1-4

By following the fate of both floated and non-floated eggs from individual clutches of four Arctic wader (shorebird)... more By following the fate of both floated and non-floated eggs from individual clutches of four Arctic wader (shorebird) species, we show that the use of the flotation method for determining incubation stage of eggs (which involves both the submersion and handling of eggs) does not negatively affect hatchability.

Novel and cross-species microsatellite markers for parentage analysis in Sanderling Calidris alba

by Jeroen Reneerkens

We isolated and tested six novel microsatellite
loci in Sanderling (Calidris alba) from Greenland formore We isolated and tested six novel microsatellite
loci in Sanderling (Calidris alba) from Greenland for
paternity analyses. In addition, we tested 11 already published
microsatellite markers which were originally
developed for the congeneric species, the Pectoral Sandpiper
(C. melanotos). All loci were polymorphic, but five of
the cross-species loci were not scorable due to suboptimal
amplification patterns. The 12 successful loci were tested
on 87 individuals, yielding an average of 9.0 (range 4–19)
alleles per locus and mean expected heterozygosity of
0.70. Because this dataset contained families, tests for
Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, linkage disequilibrium and
probability of identity were done on a subset of the data
containing 25 adults caught in the same year. The overall
probability of identity was 1.0 9 10-13. Only one locus
displayed significant homozygote excess and all loci were
unlinked. On the basis of female heterozygotes, all loci are
assumed to be autosomal.

Social and breeding status are associated with the expression of GnIH

by Sam Diaz-Munoz

R. M. Calisi, S. L. Díaz-Muñoz, J. C. Wingfield & G. E. Bentley 2011 Social and breeding status are associated with the expression of GnIH. Genes, Brain and Behavior 10: 557–564.

Note: My contribution was with paternity analysis and evolutionary implications of findings.

Discoveries of how social behavior can influence the plasticity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have... more Discoveries of how social behavior can influence the plasticity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have revolutionized the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology by providing new insights into the neural mechanisms controlling behavior. In 2000, the neuropeptide gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) was discovered and is changing the way we view how the brain mediates reproduction and associated behaviors. GnIH acts as a reproductive ‘pause button’, momentarily inhibiting the activity of the reproductive system. However, how GnIH fluctuates naturally in response to social environment is unknown. We examine how the outcome of competition for limited resources needed for reproduction is associated with GnIH. We experimentally manipulated nesting opportunities for pairs of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and examined brain GnIH mRNA and peptide content, as well as GnRH content and plasma testosterone and corticosterone. By limiting the number of nest boxes per enclosure and thus the number of social pairing and nesting opportunities, we observed that birds which outcompeted others for nest boxes (‘winners’) had significantly fewer numbers of GnIH peptide-producing cells than those without nest boxes (‘losers’) and this relationship changed with breeding stage. GnRH content, testosterone and corticosterone did not vary with nest box ownership. Thus, while birds appeared reproductively capable across treatments, our data indicate that GnIH may serve as a modulator of reproductive behaviors in response to social environment. Additionally, we provide some evidence of the adaptive value of this mechanism.

Lie back and think of Judah: the reproductive politics of pillar figurines

by Ryan Byrne

My great-great-great grandfather’s a Neanderthal

by Paul Mason

While humans and Neanderthals had children, only female humans and male Neanderthals produced a lineage that survived... more While humans and Neanderthals had children, only female humans and male Neanderthals produced a lineage that survived until today.

Neanderthal-human hybrids

by Paul Mason

"Co-authored with Roger Valentine Short, published in 'Hypothesis', 2011, 9(1), 1-5.

Evidence from studies of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA extracted from Neanderthal fossils and humans points to... more Evidence from studies of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA extracted from Neanderthal fossils and humans points to fascinating hypotheses concerning the types of interbreeding that occurred between these two species. Humans and Neanderthals share a small percentage of nuclear DNA. However, humans and Neanderthals do not possess the same mitochondrial DNA. In mammals, mitochondrial DNA is exclusively maternally inherited. Taking into account an understanding of interspecific hybridity, the available data leads to the hypothesis that only male Neanderthals were able to mate with female humans. If Haldane’s Law applied to the progeny of Neanderthals and humans, then female hybrids would survive, but male hybrids would be absent, rare, or sterile. Interbreeding between male Neanderthals and female humans, as the only possible scenario, accounts for the presence of Neanderthal nuclear DNA, the scarcity of Neanderthal Y-linked genes, and the lack of mitochondrial DNA in modern human populations.

My Great-Great-Great Grandfather was a Neanderthal

by Paul Mason

"Co-authored with Professor Roger Valentine Short from the University of Melbourne, published in 'Cosmos', 2011, 39, p. 27."

This article is the popular science version of our hypothesis concerning the patterns of human and Neanderthal... more This article is the popular science version of our hypothesis concerning the patterns of human and Neanderthal interbreeding.

Trends in age at menarche, sexual debut, and oral contraceptive use among Swedish and Swedish Sami women

by Meghan Gillette

Male chimpanzees' grooming rates vary by female age, parity, and fertility status

by Darby Proctor

Copulation preferences in our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, suggest that males prefer older females who... more Copulation preferences in our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, suggest that males prefer older females who have had previous offspring. However, this finding is counter to some behavioral models, which predict that chimpanzee males, as promiscuous breeders with minimal costs to mating, should show little or no preference when choosing mating partners (e.g. should mate indiscriminately). To determine if the preferences indicated by copulations appear in other contexts as well as how they interact, we examined how male chimpanzees’ grooming patterns varied amongst females. We found that males’ preferences were based on interactions among females’ fertility status, age, and parity. First, grooming increased with increasing female parity. We further found an effect of the estrous cycle on grooming; when females were at the lowest point of their cycle, males preferentially groomed parous females at peak reproductive age, but during maximal tumescence, males preferred the oldest multiparous females. Nulliparous females received relatively little grooming regardless of age or fertility. Thus, male chimpanzees apparently chose grooming partners based on both female’s experience and fertility, possibly indicating a two-pronged social investment strategy. Male selectivity seems to have evolved to effectively distribute costly social resources in a pattern which may increase their overall reproductive success. Am. J. Primatol. 73:1–8, 2011.

Red wolf reproductive demographics

by Suzanne MacDonald

Two takeovers in wild hamadryas baboons

by Larissa Swedell

Swedell, L. (2000) Two Takeovers in Wild Hamadryas Baboons. Folia Primatologica 71: 169-172.

Introduction:

Hamadryas baboons exhibit a multi-level social structure in which several one-male units... more Introduction:

Hamadryas baboons exhibit a multi-level social structure in which several one-male units (OMU’s), each consisting of a "leader" male and one or more females, comprise a "band" and two or more bands comprise a troop. Cohesion of each OMU is maintained by aggressive herding by its leader male.

Here I describe the consequences of two takeovers in a band of wild hamadryas baboons. I report evidence of infant mortality following takeovers, changes in female reproductive condition within two weeks after takeovers, and the reacquisition of a female by a deposed leader male, none of which has been previously reported for wild hamadryas baboons.

Perspectives on Reproduction and Life History in Baboons

by Larissa Swedell

Swedell, L. & Leigh, S. (2006) Perspectives on Reproduction and Life History in Baboons. IN Reproduction and Fitness in Baboons: Behavioral, Ecological, and Life History Perspectives, edited by L. Swedell & S. Leigh. New York: Springer, pp. 1-15. (Introductory chapter to edited volume)

This volume brings together current research on the behavior, ecology, reproduction, and life history – and the... more This volume brings together current research on the behavior, ecology, reproduction, and life history – and the interrelations among these variables – of baboons of the genus Papio. Baboons, found throughout Africa and into Arabia, represent one of the best-known primate lineages, renowned for their ecological and behavioral flexibility and adaptability. These characteristics are intimately intertwined with features of baboon life history and reproduction. Contributors to this volume, representing several major, long-term research projects from throughout the African continent, explore reproductive behavior and strategies of adult male and female baboons in a variety of ways. In Part I, authors explore various aspects of baboon reproduction and social organization, focusing on issues such as infanticide, mating strategies and investment, hybridization and genetics in examining how adults go about mating and reproducing. In Part II, these aspects of life are juxtaposed with detailed examinations of life history and parental investment. Together, the chapters in this volume explore reproduction and parenting from a variety of angles and motivate research from both the parental and offspring perspectives and at a variety of taxonomic levels. Articulating studies of reproduction with those of life history conveys a richly detailed portrait of life phases with critical evolutionary consequences. These lines of inquiry together forge new ways to investigate the life periods that matter most in evolution.

Infant mortality after takeovers in wild Ethiopian hamadryas baboons

by Larissa Swedell

Swedell, L. & Tesfaye, T. (2003) Infant Mortality After Takeovers in Wild Ethiopian Hamadryas Baboons. American Journal of Primatology 60: 113-118.

In this paper, we report the first observational evidence of infanticide in wild hamadryas baboons. The study group... more In this paper, we report the first observational evidence of infanticide in wild hamadryas baboons. The study group inhabits the lowlands of the northern Rift Valley in Ethiopia and has been under observation for over 1200 hours, on and off, since October 1996. Here we report observations from August and September 2002 of the consequences of two takeovers of known females with black infants. After the first takeover, the respective infant disappeared and was presumed dead within eleven days of the takeover. After the second takeover, the infant incurred repeated severe aggression from its mother’s new leader male and eventually died four days after the takeover. We interpret these findings as support for the sexual selection hypothesis for the occurrence of male infanticide. We suggest that hamadryas leader males usually protect infants born into their units but may withhold this protection – or even directly attack and kill infants – after takeovers.

Infant Mortality, Paternity Certainty, and Female Reproductive Strategies in Hamadryas Baboons

by Larissa Swedell

Swedell, L. & Saunders, J. (2006) Infant Mortality, Paternity Certainty, and Female Reproductive Strategies in Hamadryas Baboons. IN Reproduction and Fitness in Baboons: Behavioral, Ecological, and Life History Perspectives, edited by L. Swedell & S. Leigh. New York: Springer, pp. 19-51.

In this chapter, we compare female behavior in hamadryas baboons to that of other baboon subspecies as a means to... more In this chapter, we compare female behavior in hamadryas baboons to that of other baboon subspecies as a means to elucidate female baboon reproductive strategies. Hamadryas differ from other Papio baboons in that their social organization centers around reproductively exclusive one-male units. Infanticide and aggression towards infants are risks for hamadryas and other baboons and, as has been suggested for other primates, these risks may have played a primary role in shaping female baboon reproductive strategies. One way that females may guard against aggression towards infants is by increasing paternity uncertainty through promiscuity and the incitement of male contest and sperm competition. Presentations to multiple males, post-copulation darts, and copulation calling in particular have been suggested as mechanisms whereby females may incite male competition at both the pre- and post-copulatory levels. Accordingly, a coupling of infanticide risk and multiple mating by females (and the associated male competition) characterizes many baboon societies. Another, alternate route to ensure protection against infanticide and other forms of infant mortality is association and exclusive copulation with a single protective male. This strategy characterizes hamadryas baboon females. Paternity certainty is probably quite high among hamadryas leader males, and protective behavior towards infants has likely been selected for. Correspondingly, compared to other baboons, female hamadryas are less promiscuous, do not frequently initiate copulation, and rarely behave in ways that might incite male-male competition. We suggest that, while all baboon females use a combination of paternity concentration and confusion, hamadryas baboon females in particular focus on paternity concentration rather than confusion and that this can be explained by changes in male and female reproductive strategies during the evolution of hamadryas social organization.

Male Aggression Toward Females In Hamadryas Baboons: Conditioning, Coercion, and Control

by Larissa Swedell

Swedell, L. & Schreier, A. (2009) Male Aggression Towards Females in Hamadryas Baboons: Conditioning, Coercion, and Control. IN Sexual Coercion in Primates: An Evolutionary Perspective on Male Aggression Against Females, edited by M. Muller and R. Wrangham. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, pp. 244-268.

from Harvard University Press website:

Conflict between males and females over reproduction is ubiquitous... more from Harvard University Press website:

Conflict between males and females over reproduction is ubiquitous in nature due to fundamental differences between the sexes in reproductive rates and investment in offspring. In only a few species, however, do males strategically employ violence to control female sexuality. Why are so many of these primates? Why are females routinely abused in some species, but never in others? And can the study of such unpleasant behavior by our closest relatives help us to understand the evolution of men’s violence against women?

In the first systematic attempt to assess and understand primate male aggression as an expression of sexual conflict, the contributors to this volume consider coercion in direct and indirect forms: direct, in overcoming female resistance to mating; indirect, in decreasing the chance the female will mate with other males. The book presents extensive field research and analysis to evaluate the form of sexual coercion in a range of species—including all of the great apes and humans—and to clarify its role in shaping social relationships among males, among females, and between the sexes.