Dichotomous Male Reproductive Strategies in a Polygynous Human Society: Mating versus Parental Effort

1998 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Marie Heath ◽  
Craig Hadley
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Parental Effort ◽  
Male Reproductive Strategies

scholarly journals Female major histocompatibility complex type affects male testosterone levels and sperm number in the horse ( Equus caballus )

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1807) ◽  
pp. 20150407 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Burger ◽  
G. Dolivo ◽  
E. Marti ◽  
H. Sieme ◽  
C. Wedekind
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Equus Caballus ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Sperm Number ◽  
Sperm Velocity ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Male Reproductive Strategies

Odours of vertebrates often contain information about the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and are used in kin recognition, mate choice or female investment in pregnancy. It is, however, still unclear whether MHC-linked signals can also affect male reproductive strategies. We used horses ( Equus caballus ) to study this question under experimental conditions. Twelve stallions were individually exposed either to an unfamiliar MHC-similar mare and then to an unfamiliar MHC-dissimilar mare, or vice versa. Each exposure lasted over a period of four weeks. Peripheral blood testosterone levels were determined weekly. Three ejaculates each were collected in the week after exposure to both mares (i.e. in the ninth week) to determine mean sperm number and sperm velocity. We found high testosterone levels when stallions were kept close to MHC-dissimilar mares and significantly lower ones when kept close to MHC-similar mares. Mean sperm number per ejaculate (but not sperm velocity) was positively correlated to mean testosterone levels and also affected by the order of presentation of mares: sperm numbers were higher if MHC-dissimilar mares were presented last than if MHC-similar mares were presented last. We conclude that MHC-linked signals influence testosterone secretion and semen characteristics, two indicators of male reproductive strategies.

Modeling male reproductive strategies and optimal mate number in an orb-web spider

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare C. Rittschof ◽  
Samantha A. Hilber ◽  
M. Scarlett Tudor ◽  
Colette M. St Mary
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Web Spider ◽  
Male Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Orb Web

Alternative male reproductive strategies in the peacock blenny

1995 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 826-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ruchon ◽  
T. Laugier ◽  
J. P. Quignard
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Male Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Peacock Blenny

Male reproductive strategies in new world primates

Human Nature ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen B. Strier
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
New World ◽  
New World Primates ◽  
Male Reproductive Strategies

Reproductive Behavior in the Human Male

2019 ◽  
pp. 123-141
Author(s):  
Stefan M. M. Goetz ◽  
Glenn Weisfeld ◽  
Samuele Zilioli
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Parental Effort ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Evolutionary Success

Given the pivotal role of differential reproduction to the evolutionary success of ancestral men, evolution has produced a plethora of reproductive strategies aimed at solving the complexities of intramale competition and satisfying and/or thwarting the reproductive desires of women. Life history theory recognizes that an organism has limited resources and must invest energy appropriately. Broadly, reproductive strategies can be dichotomized into short-term (emphasizing mating over parental effort) versus long-term (emphasizing parenting over mating effort) strategies. Increasingly, the neuroendocrine system—especially testosterone—has been recognized as the proximate mechanism orchestrating adoption of one strategy over the other. This chapter reviews behaviors geared toward solving problems associated with both long-term and short-term reproductive strategies and discusses the neuroendocrine correlates. The adoption of one strategy over another is conceptualized as conditional or facultative adaptations in which strategic switching points are tuned over evolutionary time to produce optimal fitness responses to men’s social and physical conditions.

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