The timing of ovulation with respect to sexual swelling detumescence in wild olive baboons |
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Authors: | James P Higham Michael Heistermann Caroline Ross Stuart Semple Ann MacLarnon |
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Institution: | School of Human and Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, UK. jhigham@uchicago.edu |
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Abstract: | Baboon researchers commonly use the timing of sexual swelling detumescence to infer the timing of ovulation. These estimates
are then used for a variety of purposes, including the interpretation of male and female behaviour, assessment of likely paternity,
and the calculation of gestation lengths. Although captive studies have measured the timing of ovulation with respect to detumescence,
this has not been measured in wild baboons. Here, we use observational data on female sexual swellings, and hormonal data
measured from faeces, to investigate the timing of ovulation with respect to detumescence in wild olive baboons. Our data
show similar variability in the timing of ovulation with respect to detumescence as that produced by captive studies, although
there are some notable differences, including the absence of any ovulations measured on or after the day of swelling detumescence.
We discuss the importance of our results for baboon researchers using swellings to infer ovulation as part of their studies. |
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Keywords: | Faecal hormone analysis Olive baboons Sexual swelling Timing of ovulation |
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