Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-137).

Wendan Citrus grandis was introduced from FuJian province to Taiwan in 1701 (Kanghsi 40 years, Ching dynasty), and wide planted around Madou county, Tainan since. In recent years, it was found that Wendan was easily infected and damaged by long-horn beetle Philus antennatus, which caused damage even worse than another destructive insect, white-spotted Long-horned beetle Anoplophoa malasiaca. From May 2003 to May 2009, I investigated the reproduction, development and population dynamics of the beetle in a shaddock orchard in Madou, and conducted experiments on its behavior. The results showed that wrinkled triple like T character in the front chest and pronotum is one of the characteristics of Philus antennatus larva. The adults were nocturnal and often came out of the excavation in the night to copulate. After copulation, female would lay eggs in a small crack. After hatched, the larvae drilled into soil and dwelled in the host plant, eating wendan¡¦s fibrous roots, the phloem of the major roots, etc. Tender fibrous roots of shaddock¡¦s trunk were severely damaged by the larvae, resulting in host plants not able to transport water and nutrients to the leaves, which would dry out and drop. Consequently, the host plants would gradually die. The life cycle of Philus antennatus lasted about one to two years. Four stages, egg, larva, pupa and adult were observed to complete metamorphosis. The adult¡¦s life is short. After eclosion, the adults hide in the soil and do not eat. They will come out of the excavation only for copulation, and then died about 5 days after copulation. Eclosion stage lasts about 30 days, starting in late May, and incubation of egg takes about 13 -18 days. The larva stage lasts 1-2 years. But with bad climate or unfavorable environment, ecdysis would extend, and larvae would not eclosion

Abstract This study investigated the reproductive behaviors of Formosan macaques (Macaca cyclopis) from July 2000 to July 2002 with 608 field hours in Mt. Lonvegity. I followed troops C and Cd that resulted from a fission of troop C in Dec. 2000. During these two mating seasons, 19 sexually mature males and 19 females were involved in 188 mounting/thrusting series. These included 139 single and 49 multi-mounting thrusting series. The peak frequency of copulation was in Dec. in both years with means of 1.34/hr and 0.94/hr. However, the maximum number of males and females involved were in Nov and Nov~Dec.. with 18 (9M9F, 2001) and 22 (12M10F, 2001) individuals. The residency and ranks of males influence their copulation strategies. Alpha males performed over half of the multi-mount copulations (55.1%), followed by non-troop males and other troop males (each, 22.45¢M). On the other hand, the highest proportion of single mount copulations were from OTM (38.13%)¡CBiting and copulation calls occurred more frequently in multi-mount than in single mount copulation. The duration of thrust was longest in the last mount of multi-mount copulation series (10.9 sec ¡Ó5.4, n=45), next in single mount (8.16 sec ¡Ó4.2). Male dominant rank influenced the occurrence of consortships between heterosexual pairs. Nearly all of consortships observed were performed by troop males (94/105 = 89.4%), NTM just 10.48¢M(11/105 = 10.48%)¡CHigh-ranking males guarded estrous females and interfered low-ranking males' copulation. The later used sneaky mating during the absence of dominant males or in the peripheral part of a social troop with poor visibility.¡C Troop C was dominant to troop Cd in habitat utilization and intertroop interaction. Troop C often chased troop Cd away (78.3%) or troop C withdrew voluntarily (21.7%). After the troop fission, the peak of monthly frequency of copulation in Cd was higher than that in troop C (two mating seasons: 3.33/hr versus 1.44/hr, 2.80/hr versus 0.74/hr). The birth rates of these two troops both increased from 2001 to 2002 (C: 37.5% to 81.3%; Cd: 50.0% to 100%)¡C

Early life adversity (ELA) is a prevalent experience in young populations worldwide and can come in many forms, including limited access to resources as in many low socio-economic status households. ELA in humans has been linked to a variety of negative psychiatric outcomes including increased risk for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). One characteristic that these disorders share is a disruption in motivational processes. Motivation is largely regulated by the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system but is also modulated by other brain regions including the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and is crucial for processing of natural rewards such as sexual reproduction. This circuitry is sensitive to estrogenic and androgenic signaling in both males and females. Interestingly, estrogens and androgens can be modulated by the experience of ELA, pointing to gonadal hormones as a potential mediator for the impact of ELA on motivation and risk for psychiatric disorders. In the first set of experiments presented here, we characterize the limited bedding and nesting model (LBN) of early life adversity in rodents, in which rat dams and their pups are housed in a limited resource environment from postnatal day (PND) 2 through 9. LBN dams exhibited less self-care behaviors and more pup-directed behaviors, including grooming and nursing, compared to control dams. This type of maternal care is not characteristic of healthy rat dam behavior and may represent a compensatory mechanism to combat the lack of resources. However, LBN-raised pups still exhibit developmental alterations, notably a decrease in body weight that persisted into adulthood and an increase in adult plasma estradiol levels specifically in males. We build on these findings in the second set of experiments, which explores whether changes in development and gonadal hormones may also impact male reproductive behavior. We found that LBN males have a shorter latency to engage in sex behaviors at earlier timepoints in the sex assay compared to controls, suggesting an enhancement in the acquisition of this repertoire of behaviors. This enhancement in behavior was accompanied by highly sex-specific changes in gene transcription in the mPOA which underlies reproductive behaviors. The identification of genes and signaling pathways that are altered by LBN in the male mPOA lays the groundwork for future studies investigating the mechanisms by which ELA alters reproductive behaviors and underlying motivational processes. / Psychology

While many norms sustain or destabilize certain religions, one domain is particularly relevant to the survival of some religions over others: norms about fertility and reproduction. Thus far, several ethnographic and correlational studies have found a positive association between religiosity and fertility rate, but there is a dearth of laboratory investigation utilizing experimental methods to isolate causation. In Study 1, I found that experimentally activating religious concepts led to an increased desire to have children (N = 462). In Study 2, the focal study, I attempted to replicate and extend the previous study by examining implicit behavior (N = 120). I predicted that individuals primed with religion would be more likely to show an implicit approach motivation towards images of children. Failing to support my hypothesis, participants with religion activated were no more likely to approach images of babies than controls. This null finding was not affected by taking into account several relevant covariates. Additionally, an exploratory investigation of the effect that religious community norms may have on reproductive behavior was conducted. I found that participants that come from religious communities in which sexual deviance is emphasized were more likely to approach baby images. Future directions are discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-05Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:00:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 mendonca_fz_dr_jabo.pdf: 252500 bytes, checksum: 408129aa472ebef8a56e9b0e9cee1ef9 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Tilápia-do-nilo, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), é uma das espécies de peixes que utilizam o substrato para construir ninho. Porém, muitas vezes são mantidas em tanques ou aquários sem substrato. Em estudo anterior, foi verificado que a presença de substrato reduz o desenvolvimento das gônadas, aumenta a agressividade, mas não afeta o crescimento. Assim, foi avaliada a escolha do peixe por diferentes substratos (areia, areia + concha, pedra e vazio – sem substrato removível) para medir o bem-estar e o efeito de tais substratos no comportamento reprodutivo e agressivo da tilápia-do-nilo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: testar a escolha de substrato para a construção de ninho na tilápia-do-nilo (Estudo I); testar o efeito do substrato sobre o desempenho reprodutivo (freqüência e latência para construção de ninho, freqüência e latência para a desova e índice gonadossomático) e indicadores bioenergéticos (taxa de crescimento específico e índice hepatossomático) (Estudo II); e testar o efeito do tipo de substrato no desafio social por meio dos níveis de esteróides sexuais (testosterona (T) e 11-cetotestosterona (11KT)), e no cortisol plasmático como um indicador de estresse (Estudo III). A escolha de substrato foi testada em grupos (1 macho e 2 fêmeas) formados por animais adultos. Os machos escolheram o substrato de areia para a construção do ninho. Os indicadores reprodutivos e bioenergéticos também foram avaliados nos mesmos substratos utilizados no Estudo I, mas cada tipo de substrato foi colocado em aquários separados, consistindo 4 tratamentos. Em cada réplica foram utilizados 2 machos e 3 fêmeas, mantidos durante 12 dias ou até 48 horas após a primeira desova. A freqüência de desova foi maior no substrato de areia do que no sem substrato removível. Já a freqüência de construção de ninho, foi menor no substrato... / The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of fish species which use build nest on bottom substrate. However this species are usually reared in tanks or aquarium without substrate. We verified the influence of substrate on reducing of gonad development, enhance aggressiveness, but growth is not affected. Thus, we tested the fish choice for different substrates (sand, sand + shell, stone and empty - without substrate) in order to access welfare and the effects of such substrates on reproductive and aggressive behavior of Nile tilapia. Our goals in this study were: test the substrate choice to nest building (Study I); test the substrate effect on the reproductive fitness (frequency and latency to nest building, frequency and latency to spawning and gonadossomatic index) and on the bioenergetic indicators (specific growth rate and hepatossomatic index) (Study II); and test the influence of substrate type on the social challenge by analyzing sexual steroid levels (testosterone (T) and 11 – ketotestosterone (11KT)), and serum cortisol as a stress indicator (Study III). The substrate choice was tested in groups made by 1 male and 2 females adult fish. Sand substrate was significantly chosen by males to built nest. The reproductive and bioenergetics indicators were also evaluated for the same substrate used in the Study I, but each substrate type was kept in separated aquaria, performing 4 treatments. Groups of 2 males and 3 females were kept until 12 days or until 48 hours after the first spawning. The frequency of spawning was higher in the sand substrate than in no substrate treatment. The frequency of nesting was lower in the stone substrate than in sand and sand + shell substrates. The others reproductive and energetic indicators were similar between the treatments. The social contest and hormone levels were tested in the four substrates used in the former experiments... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-07-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:25:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gregati_ra_dr_botib.pdf: 1632352 bytes, checksum: 687c6583ccc126b0d9862423e393d376 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A hipótese de que a deposição espermática e a fecundação no camarão Stenopus hispidus ocorrem externamente ao corpo foram testadas, baseando-se no comportamento reprodutivo em laboratório e na anatomia reprodutiva. Para isso, 12 casais adultos foram mantidos em aquários interligados, em salinidade 35%o, temperatura 26°C, fotoperíodo 12 horas e alimentados com ração industrializada para peixes. 0 comportamento reprodutivo foi filmado e fêmeas recém-copuladas tiveram os esternos analisados. Posteriormente, os casais foram anestesiados e dissecados para a descrição da forma e localização das gônadas e pleópodos. O aparelho reprodutivo (AR) de ambos os sexos, esternos, genitálias e primeiro pleópodo também foram preparados e fotografados em microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A cópula ocorre quando a fêmea está em pós-muda, e espermatozóides puderam ser observados em seus esternos somente fazendo-se um esfregaço em lâmina. Apenas o primeiro pleópodo e masculino parece estar envolvido na cópula, já que é diferenciado dos demais. 0 AR masculino é reduzido e restrito à carapaça, com testículos lobulados e vasos deferentes não enovelados, abrindo-se na base do 5° pereiópodo. 0 AR feminino é bem desenvolvido, com o ovário ocupando grande parte da carapaça e alcançando até o terceiro somito abdominal; os ovidutos são curtos e sem estrutura aparente para estocagem de espermatozóides. As fendas genitais femininas se abrem na base do terceiro par de pereiópodos e são circundadas por cerdas plumosas, comuns também nos esternitos torácicos. Assim, o macho deposita uma massa espermática simples na região ventral da fêmea, e a fecundação ocorre no momenta da exteriorização dos oócitos maduros / Reproductive morphology and sperm transfer in Stenopus hispidus (Olivier, 11) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Stenopodidae). The hypothesis that the deposition of sperm and fertilization in the shrimp Stenopus hispidus occurs externally of the body were tested, based on reproductive behavior in the laboratory and reproductive anatomy. For this, 12 adult pairs were kept isolated on interconnected aquaria with salinity 35%o, temperature 26°C, photoperiod 12 hours and daily fed with ornamental fish food. The reproductive behavior was taken with video camera and females had the sternum analyzed after mate. After that, the shrimps were anesthetized and dissected to describe the shape and location of the gonads and pleopods morphology. The reproductive systems (RS), sternum, first pleopods and genitalia were prepared and photographed by scanning electron microscopy. The mating occurs when the female was in pos-molt, and spermatozoa were seen in their sternum only by microscope slide smear preparation. Only the first male pleopod seems to be involved in the mating, since it is different from the others. The male RS is reduced and restricted to the carapace, with lobulated testis and vas deferens not convolute, opening in the 5th pereiopod basis. The female RS is well developed, with the ovary occupying much of the carapace and reaching the third abdominal segment; the oviduct is short and without apparent structure for sperm storage. The female genitalia open at third pereiopod basis and are surrounded by dense plumose setae, common also in the sternites. Thus, the male deposits a simple spermatophoric mass in the ventral region of the female and the fertilization occurs at the moment of the mature oocytes exteriorization

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether manipulated and biographical parent disengagement were associated with sexually risky attitudes and intentions. College women (N = 140) completed an online experiment in which they were asked to recall a time when one of their parents (father or mother) was either engaged or disengaged, write about it, and then complete a series of inventories measuring their sexual attitudes, sexual intentions, and biographical information. Experimental data were analyzed using a 2 (Parent Prime: father or mother) × 2 (Engagement Prime: engaged or disengaged) ANCOVA, with the Mini-K (Figueredo et al., Developmental Review 26:243–275, 2006) as the covariate. Experimental results showed a significant main effect for the engagement prime on sexually risky attitudes and intentions, F(1, 98) = 4.34, p =.04, ηpartial2 =.04. Women who recalled a time when a parent was disengaged (M = 24.25, SD = 6.84), endorsed more sexually risky attitudes and intentions than those who recalled a time when a parent was engaged (M = 21.83, SD = 7.31). Consistent with these results, correlational analyses also revealed that childhood and current biographical parent disengagement were significantly associated with sexually risky attitudes and intentions. Results are discussed from an evolutionary perspective using Life History Theory.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os níveis séricos dos hormônios esteróides (estradiol e progesterona) e analisar as possíveis relações destes com o desenvolvimento do comportamento reprodutivo em fêmeas jovens de avestruzes (Struthio camelus) durante a maturação sexual. No primeiro experimento, duas fêmeas jovens foram avaliadas, três vezes por semana, através de colheitas de sangue para dosagem de estradiol e progesterona e de observações para avaliação do comportamento reprodutivo. No segundo experimento, 20 fêmeas jovens foram selecionadas de acordo com a intensidade de comportamento reprodutivo e tiveram seu comportamento reprodutivo monitorado semanalmente. Foram realizadas colheitas de sangue semanais nos mesmos dias das observações comportamentais. No primeiro experimento, através da comparação das médias dos valores de estradiol nas fases de presença (CCOMP) ou ausência de comportamento reprodutivo (SCOMP), verificou-se uma igualdade entre as médias nas duas fêmeas estudadas e não foi verificada correlação entre os níveis séricos de estradiol e o comportamento reprodutivo. No segundo experimento, a comparação das médias de estradiol entre as amostras dos animais SCOMP e CCOMP apresentou diferença significativa. A comparação das médias entre as 4 categorias comportamentais estabelecidas - sem comportamento (SCOMP), com baixo comportamento (COMPBX), com alto comportamento sem aceitação de cópula (COMPALTSACC), com alto comportamento com aceitação de cópula (COMPALTCACC) - demonstraram haver diferença significativa entre os valores de estradiol encontrados, também sendo verificada correlação entre as 4 categorias e os níveis médios de estradiol (r = 0,64). Para a progesterona, no primeiro experimento, os valores médios foram significativamente maiores nas amostras SCOMP do que nas CCOMP, sendo que a progesterona apresentou uma correlação negativa com a intensidade do comportamento reprodutivo nas duas fêmeas (r = -0,54 e r = -0,33). No segundo experimento, os valores médios de progesterona foram significativamente maiores nas amostras CCOMP do que nas amostras SCOMP. As médias de progesterona das 4 categorias comportamentais apresentaram diferenças significativas e houve correlação positiva (r = 0,43) dos níveis de progesterona com as 4 categorias comportamentais. Os resultados sugerem que exista uma relação entre os níveis de estradiol e progesterona e a modulação da intensidade de comportamentos reprodutivos, mas não necessariamente entre estes níveis hormonais e a iniciação destes comportamentos e que os perfis séricos de estradiol e progesterona em fêmeas de avestruz na fase de maturação sexual apresentam semelhanças com outras espécies de aves. / The purpose of this work was to study the serum levels of estradiol and progesterone and analyze their relationship with the development of the reproductive behavior in young female ostriches (Struthio camelus) during sexual maturity. The first experiment studied two young females, through blood samples, three times a week, for measurement of estradiol and progesterone and was performed behavioral observations at the same time. In the second experiment, twenty young female ostriches had their reproductive behavior monitored weekly and blood samples were collected for hormone assays in the same days of the observations. The results of the first experiment showed no differences between the mean of estradiol levels in the two phases, with and without reproductive behavior. In the same way there were no correlations between estradiol levels and frequency of behaviors. In the second experiment, there were significant differences between the mean of estradiol levels with and without reproductive behavior. When it was considered four categories of behavior (without behavior, low behavior, high behavior and no copulation posture, and high behavior and copulation posture display), the mean estradiol levels showed significant differences. There was positive correlation between the categories and the estradiol levels (r = 0,64). Regarding progesterone, the first experiment, demonstrated significantly higher hormonal levels in the absence than in the presence of reproductive behavior and a negative correlation between the occurrence of behaviors and the hormonal levels for both females (r = -0,54 and r = -0,33). In the second experiment, the means of progesterone levels were significantly higher in the phase with behavioral displays than with none. For the four behavioral categories, the means of progesterone levels differed significantly and showed a positive correlation (r = 0,43) with the reproductive behavior. The results suggest that there is a relationship between estradiol and progesterone levels and the occurence of the reproductive behavior, but not necessarily between these hormone levels and the initiation of the process. The hormonal levels of estradiol and progesterone found in ostriches were similar to some domestic avian species.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar a relação do núcleo pré-mamilar ventral (PMV): 1) na regulação do sistema reprodutivo em fêmeas, 2) como mediador dos efeitos da leptina e 3) na resposta à estimulação feromonal. Para tanto, induzimos lesão bilateral do PMV em ratas. Foi observado que a lesão do PMV promove: alteração no ciclo estral e da histologia ovariana; redução dos níveis de estradiol e LH; e supressão de vias neurais que controlam o eixo reprodutivo. Além disso, a lesão do PMV impediu que a administração central de leptina induzisse secreção de LH durante o jejum. Em outros experimentos, realizados em ratos machos, verificou-se que neurônios que sintetizam óxido nítrico no PMV e no núcleo medial da amígdala são ativados em resposta ao odor de conspecíficos, em especial o de fêmeas. Assim, foi demonstrado que o PMV exerce papel relevante na regulação do sistema reprodutivo e media a ação estimulatória da leptina na secreção do LH. Além disso, o PMV faz parte do circuito neural relacionado com a resposta aos feromônios. / The objective of this study was to assess the role played by the ventral premammillary nucleus (PMV): 1) in the regulation of the female reproductive system, 2) as a mediator of the effects of leptin and 3) in response to pheromonal stimulation. For this purpose, we produced bilateral PMV lesions in female rats. We observed that PMV lesion: disrupted the estrous cycle and altered the number of ovarian antral follicles; reduced the estradiol and LH levels; and suppressed neural pathways that control the reproductive axis. We found that lesions of the PMV blocked leptin stimulation of LH secretion during fasting. In another experiment using male rats, we showed that nitric oxide synthesizing neurons in the PMV and medial nucleus of amygdala are activated by conspecific odors, especially female odors. Thus, we showed that PMV plays an important role in the control of females reproductive system and mediates the stimulatory effects of leptin on LH secretion. Also, PMV is part of the neural circuitry related to pheromonal responses.