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Desai B, Bhowmik T, Srinivasan R, Whitaker N, Ghosal R. Monitoring the stress physiology of free-ranging mugger crocodiles ( Crocodylus palustris) across diverse habitats within Central Gujarat, India. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae035. [PMID: 38840751 PMCID: PMC11151695 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Animals face several challenges in their natural environment, and to cope with such conditions, they may exhibit contrasting physiological responses that directly affect their overall well-being and survival. In this study, we assessed physiological responses via faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) measurements in free-ranging mugger crocodiles inhabiting diverse habitats in Gujarat, India. We sampled muggers within Charotar, a rural area (Zone A) with local people having high tolerance towards the presence of muggers, and Vadodara, a region having both urban (Zone B) and rural (Zone C) areas with high levels of human-mugger conflict (HMC). Further, muggers in Vadodara live in water bodies that are mostly polluted due to sewage disposal from adjoining chemical industries. To measure fGCM (mean ± SEM, ng/g dry faeces) levels in muggers, scats were collected during both breeding (N = 107 scats) and non-breeding (N = 22 scats) seasons from all three zones. We used captive muggers (a focal enclosure) to biologically validate (via capture and restraint) the selected fGCM assay (11-oxoetiocholanolone assay). We showed a significant (P < 0.05) 11-fold increase in fGCM levels between pre-capture (540.9 ± 149.2, N = 11) and post-capture (6259.7 ± 1150.5, N = 11) samples. The validated assay was applied to free-ranging muggers during the breeding season, and Zone A showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower fGCM levels (542.03 ± 71.3) compared to muggers of Zone B (1699.9 ± 180.8) and Zone C (1806.4 ± 243.2), both zones having high levels of HMC with polluted water bodies. A similar contrast in fGCM levels was also observed during the non-breeding season. Overall, the study demonstrated that fGCM levels in muggers varied across habitats, and such variation could be due to a multitude of ecological factors that the species experience in their immediate local environment. Moreover, high fGCM levels in muggers of Vadodara during both breeding and non-breeding seasons may indicate a condition of chronic stress, which could be maladaptive for the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brinky Desai
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Commerce Six Roads, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India
| | - Tathagata Bhowmik
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Commerce Six Roads, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India
| | - Rohith Srinivasan
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Commerce Six Roads, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India
| | - Nikhil Whitaker
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Post Bag No 4, Mahabalipuram, Chennai 603104, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ratna Ghosal
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Commerce Six Roads, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, India
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2
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Li J, Zhang J, Tao S, Zeng X, Zou R, Hong X. Effect of the red uniform on the judgment of position or movement used in Wushu Routine, evaluated by practitioners of the modality. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300893. [PMID: 38512821 PMCID: PMC10956778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In the artistic sports program, the referee' scores directly determine the final results of the athletes. Wushu is a artistic sport that has a Chinese characteristic and has the potential to become an official competition at the Summer Olympic. In this study we tested whether a red uniform color affects Wushu Routine practitioners' ratings of athletes' position or movement of Wushu Routine. We also tested whether the effect varied depending on the gender of the athlete and the practitioner, and depending on whether female practitioners were in the ovulation phase of their menstrual cycle. Male (Experiment 1: N = 72) and female (Experiment 1: N = 72; Experiment 2: N = 52) participants who major in Wushu Routine were recruited to take a referee's perspective and rate the movement quality of male and female athletes wearing red or blue uniforms. The results of Experiment 1 showed that both male and female athletes wearing red uniform (compared to blue uniform) received higher ratings (p = .002, η2 = .066; p = .014, η2 = .043), and the red effect was especially strong when male practitioners rated female athletes (p = .002, η2 = .069). The results of Experiment 2, in an all-female sample, showed that in most cases there was no difference in ratings made by women in the ovulation and non-ovulation phases of their menstrual cycle, with the exception of their ratings of male athletes wearing red; in this condition, women gave higher ratings when they were in the ovulation phase of their cycle (p = .026). The results suggest that there is a red effect in an artistic sport like Wushu Routine, in which gender and the female menstrual cycle play an important role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinkun Li
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingmin Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuo Tao
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoying Zeng
- Department of Wushu, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rong Zou
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Exercise Training and Monitoring, College of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaobin Hong
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Exercise Training and Monitoring, College of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
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3
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Hong X, Xiang Y, Wang Z, Li J, Zou R, Gao P. Contextual modulation of the red-attractiveness effect: Differences in affiliation and competitive settings. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 243:104171. [PMID: 38320412 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Color is not just about aesthetics but also communicates specific information and has important implications for psychological functioning. It has been shown that the color red enhances perceived attractiveness when evaluating the opposite sex, which we call the red-attractiveness effect. However, few studies have attached importance to the social context in which attractiveness ratings are made, which means that the red-attractiveness effect is rarely explained by analyzing the role of social context. We conducted two experiments to test the red-attractiveness effect in Chinese culture and the influence of context (affiliation or competitive) on the red-attractiveness effect. Experiment 1 (160 Chinese college students, 80 males) showed that the opposite-sex target in red, compared to white, was rated more attractive, and the red-attractiveness effect was applicable to Chinese culture. Experiment 2 (480 Chinese college students, 240 males) found that perceived attractiveness was strengthened in the affiliation context and weakened in the competitive context, that is, the main effect of context was significant. We did not find any significant effect of the color red in either context, that is, the color main effect was not significant. However, the results indicate that red can enhance perceived attractiveness when evaluating the opposite sex. This study demonstrates that the red attractiveness effect may exist in different cultural backgrounds and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Hong
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Exercise Training and Monitoring, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yuxiu Xiang
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zhonghuan Wang
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Jinkun Li
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Rong Zou
- Department of Psychology, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Exercise Training and Monitoring, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Research Center for Sports and Health Innovation and Development, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China.
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4
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Sobral G, Dubuc C, Winters S, Ruiz-Lambides A, Emery Thompson M, Maestripieri D, Milich KM. Facial and genital color ornamentation, testosterone, and reproductive output in high-ranking male rhesus macaques. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2621. [PMID: 38297064 PMCID: PMC10831099 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52400-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Males in many vertebrate species have colorful ornaments that evolved by sexual selection. The role of androgens in the genesis and maintenance of these signals is unclear. We studied 21 adult high-ranking male rhesus macaques from nine social groups in the free-ranging population on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, and analyzed facial and genital skin luminance and redness, fecal androgens, rates of mating behaviors, and offspring sired. Facial and genital coloration varied in relation to age, mating behavior, reproductive success, and testosterone concentration. Our results indicate that skin coloration in high-ranking male rhesus macaques is a sexually-selected trait mediated by androgens. These results add to the growing literature on the proximate and ultimate causes of male sexual signals and highlight the need to examine how these characteristics change with age in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Sobral
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM/UFRJ), Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Constance Dubuc
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandra Winters
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | | | - Krista M Milich
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Institute for Mind and Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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5
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Bailey N, Ruiz C, Tosi A, Stevison L. Genomic analysis of the rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta) and the cynomolgus macaque ( Macaca fascicularis) uncover polygenic signatures of reinforcement speciation. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10571. [PMID: 37849934 PMCID: PMC10577069 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Speciation can involve phases of divergent adaptation in allopatry and ecological/reproductive character displacement in sympatry or parapatry. Reproductive character displacement can result as a means of preventing hybridization, a process known as reinforcement speciation. In this study, we use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of two closely related primate species that have experienced introgression in their history, the rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (M. fascicularis) macaques, to identify genes exhibiting reproductive character displacement and other patterns consistent with reinforcement speciation. Using windowed scans of various population genetic statistics to identify signatures of reinforcement, we find 184 candidate genes associated with a variety of functions, including an overrepresentation of multiple neurological functions and several genes involved in sexual development and gametogenesis. These results are consistent with a variety of genes acting in a reinforcement process between these species. We also find signatures of introgression of the Y-chromosome that confirm previous studies suggesting male-driven introgression of M. mulatta into M. fascicularis populations. This study uses WGS to find evidence of the process of reinforcement in primates that have medical and conservation relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Bailey
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
| | - Cody Ruiz
- Department of AnthropologyKent State UniversityKentOhioUSA
| | - Anthony Tosi
- Department of AnthropologyKent State UniversityKentOhioUSA
| | - Laurie Stevison
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
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6
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Moreira LAA, Merrigan-Johnson C, Fetherstonhaugh L, Parr NA, Higham JP, Melin AD. Assessing color cues of development, breeding status and reproductive condition in captive golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia). Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23543. [PMID: 37560915 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Color signals play an important role in intraspecific communication and are well studied in catarrhine primates, which exhibit uniform trichromatic vision that is well suited to detecting such signals. Platyrrhine primates exhibit polymorphic color vision with different individuals possessing different color vision types in most species. Intriguingly, some platyrrhine species exhibit bare faces, which are convergent with those of catarrhines. However, putative functions of bare-faced color signals in platyrrhines remain largely unexplored. We measured facial skin color of five captive golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) using color-calibrated digital photography and modeled these colors to the visual systems of the species. Our results show that facial coloration is different between infant and older adults and varies across reproductive condition, but not between breeding and nonbreeding adults. While preliminary, our study suggests that facial coloration may be involved in sociosexual signaling in golden lion tamarins, and provides intriguing evidence that we hope might stimulate more studies of bare-faced signaling in platyrrhines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lais A A Moreira
- Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | | | | | - Nigel A Parr
- Department of Wildlife Care, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Canada
| | - James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Amanda D Melin
- Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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7
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Brown M, Burnett L, Boykin K. Was she wearing red? The function of victim-blaming in women's intrasexual competition. Scand J Psychol 2023; 64:205-211. [PMID: 36134619 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Previous research indicates that women frequently use red clothing to signal their sexual receptivity, with men and women both recognizing this as a reliable cue to such receptivity. Nonetheless, receptivity cues can inform perceptions of women's culpability for experiencing sexual assault. Thus, women experiencing sexual assault could become more of a target for victim-blaming if assaulted while wearing red. Such victim-blaming could be especially apparent especially among those who believe the world is just. The current study presented a sexual assault vignette to American undergraduates (155 women, 66 men) describing a woman wearing either red or green whom participants evaluated for the degree of culpability she has for the assault. Results indicated that the red-wearing target was viewed as more culpable for the assault, particularly for women with heightened just-world beliefs. We frame results from an evolutionary framework considering victim-blaming as part of women's intrasexual competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitch Brown
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Lucienne Burnett
- School of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Boykin
- School of Psychology, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
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8
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Jiang Y, Sheng F, Belkaya N, Platt ML. Oxytocin and testosterone administration amplify viewing preferences for sexual images in male rhesus macaques. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210133. [PMID: 35858095 PMCID: PMC9272140 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Social stimuli, like faces, and sexual stimuli, like genitalia, spontaneously attract visual attention in both human and non-human primates. Social orienting behaviour is thought to be modulated by neuropeptides as well as sex hormones. Using a free viewing task in which paired images of monkey faces and anogenital regions were presented simultaneously, we found that male rhesus macaques overwhelmingly preferred to view images of anogenital regions over faces. They were more likely to make an initial gaze shift towards, and spent more time viewing, anogenital regions compared with faces, and this preference was accompanied by relatively constricted pupils. On face images, monkeys mostly fixated on the forehead and eyes. These viewing preferences were found for images of both males and females. Both oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide linked to social bonding and affiliation, and testosterone (TE), a sex hormone implicated in mating and aggression, amplified the pre-existing orienting bias for female genitalia over female faces; neither treatment altered the viewing preference for male anogenital regions over male faces. Testosterone but not OT increased the probability of monkeys making the first gaze shift towards female anogenital rather than face pictures, with the strongest effects on anogenital images of young and unfamiliar females. Finally, both OT and TE promoted viewing of the forehead region of both female and male faces, which display sexual skins, but decreased the relative salience of the eyes of older males. Together, these results invite the hypothesis that both OT and TE regulate reproductive behaviours by acting as a gain control on the visual orienting network to increase attention to mating-relevant signals in the environment. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoguang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Feng Sheng
- Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- School of Management and MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain–Machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Naz Belkaya
- Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Lisbon, 1400-038, Portugal
| | - Michael L. Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Marketing Department, the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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9
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Munds RA, Cooper EB, Janiak MC, Lam LG, DeCasien AR, Bauman Surratt S, Montague MJ, Martinez MI, Research Unit CB, Kawamura S, Higham JP, Melin AD. Variation and heritability of retinal cone ratios in a free-ranging population of rhesus macaques. Evolution 2022; 76:1776-1789. [PMID: 35790204 PMCID: PMC9544366 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A defining feature of catarrhine primates is uniform trichromacy-the ability to distinguish red (long; L), green (medium; M), and blue (short; S) wavelengths of light. Although the tuning of photoreceptors is conserved, the ratio of L:M cones in the retina is variable within and between species, with human cone ratios differing from other catarrhines. Yet, the sources and structure of variation in cone ratios are poorly understood, precluding a broader understanding of color vision variability. Here, we report a large-scale study of a pedigreed population of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We collected foveal RNA and analyzed opsin gene expression using cDNA and estimated additive genetic variance of cone ratios. The average L:M ratio and standard error was 1.03:1 ± 0.02. There was no age effect, and genetic contribution to variation was negligible. We found marginal sex effects with females having larger ratios than males. S cone ratios (0.143:1 ± 0.002) had significant genetic variance with a heritability estimate of 43% but did not differ between sexes or age groups. Our results contextualize the derived human condition of L-cone dominance and provide new information about the heritability of cone ratios and variation in primate color vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Munds
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
| | - Eve B. Cooper
- Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew York10460
| | - Mareike C. Janiak
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada,Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,School of Science, Engineering and EnvironmentUniversity of SalfordSalfordM5 4NTUnited Kingdom
| | - Linh Gia Lam
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
| | - Alex R. DeCasien
- Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew York10460,Section on Developmental NeurogenomicsNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMaryland20892
| | | | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvania19104
| | - Melween I. Martinez
- Caribbean Primate Research CenterUniversity of Puerto RicoSan JuanPuerto Rico00936
| | | | - Shoji Kawamura
- Department of Integrated BiosciencesUniversity of TokyoKashiwa277‐8562Japan
| | - James P. Higham
- Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew York10460
| | - Amanda D. Melin
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada,Department of Medical GeneticsUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada,Alberta Children's Hospital Research InstituteUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
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10
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Earl AD, Kimmitt AA, Yorzinski JL. Circulating hormones and dominance status predict female behavior during courtship in a lekking species. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:9-20. [PMID: 35467712 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Female competitive behaviors during courtship can have substantial fitness consequences yet we know little about the physiological and social mechanisms underlying these behaviors - particularly for females of polygynous lek mating species. We explored the hormonal and social drivers of female intersexual and intrasexual behavior during courtship by males in a captive population of Indian peafowl. We investigated whether (1) female non-stress induced circulating estradiol (E2) and corticosterone (CORT) levels or (2) female dominance status in a dyad predict female solicitation behavior. We also tested whether female circulating E2 and CORT predict dominant females' aggressive behaviors toward subordinate females in the courtship context. Our findings demonstrate that females with higher levels of circulating E2 as well as higher levels of circulating CORT solicit more courtships from males. Dominant females also solicit more courtships from males than subordinate females. Female intrasexual aggressive behaviors during courtship, however, were not associated with circulating levels of E2 or CORT. Overall, we conclude that circulating steroid hormones in conjunction with social dominance might play a role in mediating female behaviors associated with competition for mates. Experimental manipulation and measures of hormonal flexibility throughout the breeding season in relation to competitive and sexual behaviors will be necessary to further examine the link between hormonal mechanisms and female behavior in polygynous lekking systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis D Earl
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, 10027, USA
| | - Abigail A Kimmitt
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Jessica L Yorzinski
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA
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11
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Greenberg D, Snyder KP, Filazzola A, Mastromonaco GF, Schoof VAM. Hormonal correlates of male dominance rank, age, and genital colouration in vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 316:113948. [PMID: 34826430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Primates are the most colourful members of the Mammalian clade. In vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), males are characterized by their red penis and blue scrotum. Such colour signals are often used in conspecific communication, and thus could be used to convey signaller condition. We quantified scrotal and penile colour characteristics using digital photographs between May-June 2016 from males in two neighboring groups along the shores of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. We examined the relationship between fecal hormones, male dominance rank, age (adult vs. immature), and colour. Adult males were higher ranking than immatures, but there were no rank or age differences in fecal hormone levels. Glucocorticoids and androgens were positively correlated in immature, but not adult males. All scrotal characteristics were predicted by age, with adult males having more teal (i.e., less blue, more green) and more luminant scrota. Within adult males, those with higher androgens levels had more saturated blue scrotal colouration and higher-ranking males were more luminant. Penile colouration was also associated with age and rank. High-ranking males had a more saturated red penis, and adult male penile colour was more luminant and bluer than in immature males. Our findings are consistent with previous reports that scrotal colouration advertises sexual or reproductive maturity (i.e., age), but we also find that within adult males, colour also advertises dominance rank and may be mediated by androgen levels. Penile colouration also appears to signal information about male age and dominance rank but does not appear to be mediated by hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Greenberg
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - K P Snyder
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - A Filazzola
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - G F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - V A M Schoof
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Bilingual Biology Program, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Glendon College, York University, 2275 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M6, Canada.
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12
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Rigaill L, Garcia C. Does male mate choice select for female coloration in a promiscuous primate species? Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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