Risk of sperm competition does not influence copulatory behavior in the promiscuous meadow vole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microtus pennsylvanicus</Emphasis>)

It is not clear whether males in all mammalian species adjust their copulatory behavior when faced with risk of sperm competition (RSC). Previous work on meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, indicated that males increase their sperm expenditure but not the number of ejaculations in the presence of odors of a conspecific male. The present study follows up on this work and asks whether male meadow voles modify any aspect of their copulatory behavior when they face a RSC. We examined 46 variables of copulatory behavior and found that the presence of odors from a conspecific male did not affect any of these variables. Thus, male meadow voles, unlike some other species of mammals, do not adjust their copulatory behavior when exposed to cues associated with an elevated RSC.     

雄性黄山短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)攻击支持雌性以换取交配回报

生物市场理论认为动物个体之间通过某种协定交换有价值的商品,使双方均受益。该研究采用目标动物法、行为取样法和连续记录法,对浮溪黄山野生猴谷鱼鳞坑短尾猴(Macaca thibetana)A1群(YA1群)和A2群(YA2群)成年个体在非繁殖季节(2011年8月—12月)和繁殖季节(2012年2月—5月)的雄性攻击支持雌性行为和交配行为进行研究,探讨雄性攻击支持雌性与交配之间的关系。两猴群在繁殖季节和非繁殖季节雄性攻击支持雌性与交配行为均呈显著正相关;YA2群繁殖季节与非繁殖季节攻击支持后交配频次均显著高于随机交配;YA1群在繁殖季节攻击支持后交配频次与随机交配频次差异不显著,但在非繁殖季节攻击支持后交配频次显著高于随机交配,说明短尾猴成年雄性攻击支持雌性可以换取与该雌性个体的交配回报。本研究验证了生物市场理论中社会行为存在交换,首次证明了雄性攻击支持可以换取雌性的交配回报,为进一步研究雄性性竞争与雌性选择提供了实例。     

Functional morphology of the male caudal appendages of the damselfly Ischnura elegans (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

Odonata are usually regarded as one of the most ancient extant lineages of winged insects. Their copulatory apparatus and mating behavior are unique among insects. Male damselflies use their caudal appendages to clasp the female's prothorax during both copulation and egg-laying and have a secondary copulatory apparatus for sperm transfer. Knowledge of the functional morphology of the male caudal appendages is the basis for understanding the evolution of these structures in Odonata and respective organs in other insects. However, it is still not exactly known how the zygopteran claspers work. In this study, we applied micro-computed tomography and a variety of microscopy techniques to examine the morphology, surface microstructure, cuticle material composition and muscle topography of the male caudal appendages of Ischnura elegans. The results indicate that the closing of the paraproctal claspers is mainly passive. This indirect closing mechanism is very likely supported by high proportions of the elastic protein resilin present in the cuticle of the paraproctal bases. In addition, the prothoracic morphology of the female plays an important role in the indirect closing of the male claspers. Our data indicate that both structures – the male claspers and the female prothoracic hump – function together like a snap-fastener.     

罗氏沼虾繁殖行为的再描述

2007年6～9月对采自孟加拉国库尔纳专区羌纳县布苏尔河原产地罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)的繁殖行为进行了观察研究。配合摄像机录像技术,重点观察并记录了野生罗氏沼虾生殖过程中的主要行为特征。本文所涉及的繁殖过程特指在人工操控条件下,自两性遭遇、识别至雌虾抱卵为止这段时间。选择体重在80.0g以上的雄虾、40.0g以上的雌虾分别在当地河堤外侧的池沼中驯化适应15d,然后,在室内水泥池中观察其繁殖行为。罗氏沼虾在繁殖过程中呈现的典型行为主要有:两性遭遇及识别,雄虾的占位,雌虾的蜕壳,雄虾俘获雌虾及其交媾前的守卫、交媾及精荚传递,雄虾交媾后的守卫及释放雌虾,雌虾产卵及抱卵。其中,雄虾的配偶守卫行为是有效地保证两性生殖成功的交配策略之一。     

海南坡鹿雄鹿发情期的吼叫行为及其在繁殖中的意义

1998年 3～ 5月期间 ,于海南省大田国家级自然保护区的养鹿场内共记录到 7只半野生海南坡鹿(Cervuseldihainanus)雄鹿发情期 4 6次吼叫 ,但未见到雌鹿发出吼叫的现象。记录到的所有吼叫均由年龄大于4 5岁的雄鹿发出 ,其中 1只雄鹿的吼叫达 2 2次 ,占 4 7 8%。雄鹿的吼叫由连续的 3～ 13声组成 ,整个吼叫过程持续 9～ 2 3s ,吼叫频率为 [3 4 74± 6 90 ( 2 5 ) ]声 /min。雄鹿每次的吼叫声数及持续时间存在显著的个体差异。雄鹿的吼叫在白天和夜间均能听见 ,但主要发生于 8:0 0～ 9:5 9及 17:0 0～ 17:5 9两个时间段。吼叫是雄鹿繁殖活动的一个表现指标 ,它与雄鹿的蹭角、泥浴、争斗胜利、交配成功或追逐发情雌鹿等优势行为显著正相关。因此 ,我们认为吼叫是雄鹿发情行为中的一种优势炫耀行为 ,具有明显的繁殖意义。     

Secretion in the rat coagulating gland (Anterior Prostate) after copulation

Summary The effect of copulation on the rat coagulating gland (anterior prostate) was studied. At 4 to 6 h after the beginning of copulation the coagulating glands of rats that had produced copulatory plugs were nearly empty of secretion. Ultrastructurally, the coagulating gland has large cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and few condensing vacuoles or secretion granules. After copulation the number of secretion granules and the frequency of their expulsion into the lumen increased. Also in the lumen were fragmentation vesicles (50–100 nm diameter) that were bounded by a unit membrane and appeared to arise from microvilli. At 4, 6, and 7h after the beginning of copulation there was an increase in apical blebbing. Blebbing was found in both perfusion and immersion-fixed tissue. Also, after copulation there was an increase in light cells that were characterized by reduced RER cisternae, an electron lucent cytoplasm, and atrophic Golgi apparatus. The luminal ground substance, secretion granules, and some Golgi elements, contained polysaccharides as seen with the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate method.     

Observation of brown-throated three-toed sloths: mating behaviour and the simultaneous nurturing of two young

Bradypus variegatus is a member of the Order Pilosa, Family Bradypodidae, and is distributed in many subtropical and tropical countries in South and Central America. However, studies on this species in the wild are relatively limited and many aspects of its reproductive behaviour are unknown or unclear. The current report presents new observations of the reproductive behaviour of B. variegatus in its natural environment. These include details of both a male–female copulation and the simultaneous nurturing of two young sloths.     

人工饲养蒙新河狸的发情交配行为

人工饲养的蒙新河猪其动情周期可划分为４个阶段：动情前期、动情期（发情交配期）、动情后期和停滞期（动情间隔期）。动情期间雌雄河狸均表现出活跃好动,浮躁不安,食量减小;发情交配期雌雄河狸均发出低沉嘶哑的叫声,雄性叫声频率比性略高,爬跨交配是动情期发情的高峰,动情周期各阶段的行为特征,在雌性与阴道涂片细胞学及外生殖器形态、色泽、阴道分泌物周期性变化特征相吻合,在雄性则与睾丸及阴茎形态特征吻合,在人工饲养     

Delayed copulation as a means of female choice by the hermit crab Pagurus filholi

Male hermit crabs perform precopulatory mate-guarding behavior during their reproductive season. As females generally cannot reject guarding attempts by males, male guarding prevents females from inspecting and choosing other male mates. However, as guarding males are often replaced by other males through competition for females during the guarding phase, females may be able to select males by delaying their copulation. To examine the possibility of female choice by hermit crabs, we investigated whether female Pagurus filholi that were being guarded in the field were ready to copulate and spawn. We found that about 30% of females guarded in the field were ready to spawn, indicating that guarded females delayed copulation with their current male. Our results suggest that by delaying copulation females may exploit male–male competition to choose dominant males. However, delaying copulation reduced the spawning potential of females. Hence, there is a trade-off between waiting for the opportunity to mate with a dominant male and decreased spawning success if females exploit male–male competition.     

Consequences of in ovo exposure to p,p'-DDE on reproductive development and function in Japanese quail

This study was conduced to assess the effects of a one time embryonic exposure to p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene; DDE) on the reproductive development and function in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Embryos were exposed at day one of incubation to either 20 or 40 microg DDE or a sesame oil vehicle control (injection volume=20 microl). Onset of puberty, gonadal histopathology, sperm motility, cloacal gland size, and male copulatory behavior were assessed in adults. DDE accelerated onset of puberty in females and reduced male reproductive behaviors. Gonadal morphology and sperm motility appeared to be unaffected. Results from this study provide evidence that the neuroendocrine system may be more sensitive and less resilient to embryonic exposure to contaminants than traditional measures of reproductive success following contaminant exposure in adults. This study further supports the inclusion of behavioral assessments in toxicity tests.