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LeFauve MK, Margulis SW. Chemical contraceptive impacts on cyclic progesterone and sexual behavior in zoo-housed Western lowland gorillas. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23418. [PMID: 35848104 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
For regularly cycling primates in captivity, chemical contraceptives can be used to reduce the likelihood of unintentional offspring, but the effects on cyclic progesterone and sexual behavior have not been well studied in gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). As zoos are invested in maintaining naturalistic behaviors and physiology, this is an important aspect of gorilla physical and mental health. We examined how exposure to combination and progestin-only oral birth control pills altered cyclic progesterone and timing of sexual behaviors in four female gorillas at four institutions compared to cycling controls. Hormonal data were collected using fecal steroid metabolites as detected by enzyme immunoassay. Behavioral data were collected via one-zero sampling done by keeper staff. All methods of oral contraceptive eliminated the ovarian cycle, with fecal progestogens being maintained below baselines in cycling control individuals. There was also no evidence of any cyclic patterning in endogenous progesterone, suggesting that the methods tested do not allow for detection of a recovery of endogenous progesterone during a short no-pill period. We also found that the oral contraceptives altered the timing of behavioral displays when compared to cycling control individuals but was not directly related to any fluctuations in endogenous progesterone. This study reveals a need for additional research on contraceptive use in gorillas and reinforces that sexual behavior in gorillas is both hormonally and socially mediated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K LeFauve
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.,Department of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, USA.,Department of Psychology, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Susan W Margulis
- Department of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, USA.,Department of Biology, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, USA
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2
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Durgavich LS, Harwell FS, Knott CD. A composite menstrual cycle of captive orangutans, with associated hormonal and behavioral variability. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23420. [PMID: 35856470 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of species-typical reproductive endocrinology profiles is crucial for testing hypotheses pertaining to the evolutionary history, reproductive parameters, and life history of a species, and for managing the well-being of individual animals in human care. Large-scale empirical measurements of ovarian hormones, however, are rare for most primate species, including orangutans. In this study, we used enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to quantify estrogen (estrone conjugates; E1 C) and progesterone (pregnanediol-3-glucuronide; PdG) levels for 98 cycles in 7 cycling zoo-housed female orangutans (10-43 years old). We use a subset of these cycles (N = 44) to create the first composite menstrual cycle for orangutans, which serves as a valuable baseline for future comparative analyses and veterinary considerations. Similar to previous studies, we determined the mean ovarian cycle length of orangutans to be 29.7 days (N = 98 cycles), although we illustrate evidence of both intra- and interindividual variation in ovarian steroid production. Given that this study took place in captivity, we consider how energetic and psychosocial aspects of the zoo environment, such as greater food availability and potential stress, may affect the reproductive physiology and sexual behavior of these females. Furthermore, we discuss the role that age and genetic background may play in producing variability. Finally, we test whether ovarian hormone levels correlate with the reproductive behaviors of these female orangutans using associated behavioral data. Our results suggest that matings are more common during the periovulatory period than outside of it, but do not support a consistent link between hormonal indices of fecundability and mating behaviors in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara S Durgavich
- Anthropology Department, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Faye S Harwell
- Anthropology Department, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cheryl D Knott
- Anthropology Department, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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3
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Borries C, Lodwick JL, Salmi R, Koenig A. Phenotypic Plasticity Rather Than Ecological Risk Aversion or Folivory Can Explain Variation in Gorilla Life History. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.873557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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4
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Helfrich-Förster C, Monecke S, Spiousas I, Hovestadt T, Mitesser O, Wehr TA. Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabe1358. [PMID: 33571128 PMCID: PMC7840133 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Many species synchronize reproductive behavior with a particular phase of the lunar cycle to increase reproductive success. In humans, a lunar influence on reproductive behavior remains controversial, although the human menstrual cycle has a period close to that of the lunar cycle. Here, we analyzed long-term menstrual recordings of individual women with distinct methods for biological rhythm analysis. We show that women's menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the Moon's luminance and/or gravimetric cycles. With age and upon exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony. We hypothesize that in ancient times, human reproductive behavior was synchronous with the Moon but that our modern lifestyles have changed reproductive physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Helfrich-Förster
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany.
| | - S Monecke
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany
| | - I Spiousas
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - T Hovestadt
- Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biocenter, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - O Mitesser
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - T A Wehr
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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5
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Ruff CB, Junno JA, Eckardt W, Gilardi K, Mudakikwa A, McFarlin SC. Skeletal ageing in Virunga mountain gorillas. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190606. [PMID: 32951549 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone loss and heightened fracture risk are common conditions associated with ageing in modern human populations and have been attributed to both hormonal and other metabolic and behavioural changes. To what extent these age-related trends are specific to modern humans or generally characteristic of natural populations of other taxa is not clear. In this study, we use computed tomography to examine age changes in long bone and vertebral structural properties of 34 wild-adult Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) whose skeletons were recovered from natural accumulations. Chronological ages were known or estimated from sample-specific dental wear formulae and ranged between 11 and 43 years. Gorillas show some of the same characteristics of skeletal ageing as modern humans, including endosteal and some periosteal expansion. However, unlike in humans, there is no decline in cortical or trabecular bone density, or in combined geometric-density measures of strength, nor do females show accelerated bone loss later in life. We attribute these differences to the lack of an extended post-reproductive period in gorillas, which provides protection against bone resorption. Increases in age-related fractures (osteoporosis) in modern humans may be a combined effect of an extended lifespan and lower activity levels earlier in life. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution of the primate ageing process'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | | | - Kirsten Gilardi
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Antoine Mudakikwa
- Department of Tourism and Conservation, Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Shannon C McFarlin
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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Habumuremyi S, Deschner T, Fawcett KA, Robbins MM. Male-female interactions in multimale groups of mountain gorillas. Am J Primatol 2018; 80:e22910. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sosthene Habumuremyi
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Leipzig Germany
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International; Atlanta Georgia
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Leipzig Germany
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Robbins MM, Robbins AM. Variation in the social organization of gorillas: Life history and socioecological perspectives. Evol Anthropol 2018; 27:218-233. [PMID: 30325554 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A focus of socioecological research is to understand how ecological, social, and life history factors influence the variability of social organization within and between species. The genus Gorilla exhibits variability in social organization with western gorilla groups being almost exclusively one-male, yet approximately 40% of mountain gorilla groups are multimale. We review five ultimate causes for the variability in social organization within and among gorilla populations: human disturbance, ecological constraints on group size, risk of infanticide, life history patterns, and population density. We find the most evidence for the ecological constraints and life history hypotheses, but an over-riding explanation remains elusive. The variability may hinge on variation in female dispersal patterns, as females seek a group of optimal size and with a good protector male. Our review illustrates the challenges of understanding why the social organization of closely related species may deviate from predictions based on socioecological and life history theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha M Robbins
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andrew M Robbins
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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8
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Canington
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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9
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Silva AR, Moreira N, Pereira AF, Peixoto GC, Maia KM, Campos LB, Borges AA. Estrus Cycle Monitoring in Wild Mammals: Challenges and Perspectives. Theriogenology 2017. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.69444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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