rhe non-copulatory estrous behaviour of semi-free ranging female Japanese monkeys was observed for 3 months, in order to investigate the role of the female in the establishment of mating pairs. It was concluded that the females play a very active role in the formation of mating pairs, showing three times more solicitation behaviour than males. They also reject more than 30% of the advances they do receive. This is interpretated as an indication of selectivity in the choice of sexual partners. The behaviour of the female in this courtship context is described, with emphasis on preceptive or solicitation behaviour. The data were tested for behavioural differences based on the female's age, rank, parity, number of offspring and the presence of an infant, and for differences based on the age, rank and spatial status of the interacting male. Age of the female had the greatest effect on behaviour, with older females behaving in a more calm, sophisticated manner when soliciting a male. Age was also the most significant male variable, with females showing more rejection to younger males. Other than age related findings it must be concluded that these sociological characteristics of the animals are not predictive of the females' courtship behaviour. A number of alternate lines of inquiry for future research are suggested. They include an investigation of the hormonal basis of estrous behaviour, a multivariate analysis, and a sequential analysis of behaviour. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

A superordem Batoidea é fortemente corroborada como monofilética, com cerca de 650 espécies viventes, sendo a superordem mais diversa dentre os Chondrichthyes. O órgão copulador duplo, conhecido como mixopterígio, é uma das sinapomorfias de Chondrichthyes. O mixopterígio de Batoidea, com exceção de Rajidae, não foi amplamente analisado do ponto de vista comparativo, sendo o conhecimento restrito a descrições isoladas de alguns táxons. O vasto conhecimento do mixopterígio de rajídeos evidencia a grande importância da estrutura em estudos de taxonomia e filogenia, com muitos táxons definidos principalmente baseados na anatomia e morfologia dos componentes que formam o órgão copulador. Os demais grupos carecem de estudos comparativos como feitos para Rajidae. Devido à importância sistemática do mixopterígio em Rajidae, o presente projeto tem objetivo descrever as estruturas internas e externas que compõem o órgão copulador dos membros das famílias de Batoidea, identificar possíveis padrões anatômicos que caracterizam grupos taxonômicos e testar o monofiletismo da superordem Batoidea e de seus principais grupos. A terminologia utilizada para os componentes do órgão copulador é praticamente toda baseada na família Rajidae, sendo necessária uma revisão abordando os demais grupos de raias e seus táxons proximamente relacionados / Batoidea is a monophyletic group and is the most diverse superorder within Chondrichthyes with about 640 valid species. Endoskeletal copulatory organs in males (claspers) are a synapomorphy of Chondrichthyes. The classification as well as interrelationships within elasmobranchs has been influenced by characters found in the copulatory organs. In Rajiformes (skates), for example, the claspers are very important in phylogenic and taxonomic studies, with most genera and species defined based on the anatomy of clasper elements, especially those of the terminal group (dorsal and ventral terminal cartilages). However in other batoids the anatomy and morphology of the claspers are still precariously known, highlighting the necessity of a thorough morphological analysis of the copulatory organs of Batoidea. The present PhD project, therefore, is a thorough, detailed morphological and systematic analysis of the variation observed in claspers among all batoid groups. The main objective of the present project is to describe and compare the external and internal (muscle and skeleton) components of the clasper, clarifying relationships of homology of its components among batoids, and discovering systematic patterns that are plylogenetically informative that may aid in resolving problematic relationships within batoids (such as which batoid group is most basal, elucidate the doubtful monophyletic status of guitarfishes, and the phylogenetic position of problematic taxa, such as Zanobatus, Platyrhinidae and electric rays)

No description available.

A superordem Batoidea é fortemente corroborada como monofilética, com cerca de 650 espécies viventes, sendo a superordem mais diversa dentre os Chondrichthyes. O órgão copulador duplo, conhecido como mixopterígio, é uma das sinapomorfias de Chondrichthyes. O mixopterígio de Batoidea, com exceção de Rajidae, não foi amplamente analisado do ponto de vista comparativo, sendo o conhecimento restrito a descrições isoladas de alguns táxons. O vasto conhecimento do mixopterígio de rajídeos evidencia a grande importância da estrutura em estudos de taxonomia e filogenia, com muitos táxons definidos principalmente baseados na anatomia e morfologia dos componentes que formam o órgão copulador. Os demais grupos carecem de estudos comparativos como feitos para Rajidae. Devido à importância sistemática do mixopterígio em Rajidae, o presente projeto tem objetivo descrever as estruturas internas e externas que compõem o órgão copulador dos membros das famílias de Batoidea, identificar possíveis padrões anatômicos que caracterizam grupos taxonômicos e testar o monofiletismo da superordem Batoidea e de seus principais grupos. A terminologia utilizada para os componentes do órgão copulador é praticamente toda baseada na família Rajidae, sendo necessária uma revisão abordando os demais grupos de raias e seus táxons proximamente relacionados / Batoidea is a monophyletic group and is the most diverse superorder within Chondrichthyes with about 640 valid species. Endoskeletal copulatory organs in males (claspers) are a synapomorphy of Chondrichthyes. The classification as well as interrelationships within elasmobranchs has been influenced by characters found in the copulatory organs. In Rajiformes (skates), for example, the claspers are very important in phylogenic and taxonomic studies, with most genera and species defined based on the anatomy of clasper elements, especially those of the terminal group (dorsal and ventral terminal cartilages). However in other batoids the anatomy and morphology of the claspers are still precariously known, highlighting the necessity of a thorough morphological analysis of the copulatory organs of Batoidea. The present PhD project, therefore, is a thorough, detailed morphological and systematic analysis of the variation observed in claspers among all batoid groups. The main objective of the present project is to describe and compare the external and internal (muscle and skeleton) components of the clasper, clarifying relationships of homology of its components among batoids, and discovering systematic patterns that are plylogenetically informative that may aid in resolving problematic relationships within batoids (such as which batoid group is most basal, elucidate the doubtful monophyletic status of guitarfishes, and the phylogenetic position of problematic taxa, such as Zanobatus, Platyrhinidae and electric rays)

Discrete electrolytic lesions were placed in the mesencephalic dorsal noradrenergic (DNE) bundle of 22 male Sprague-Dawley rats, and sham operations were performed on 14 control animals. Eight components of copulatory behavior were compared in 2 preoperative and 2 postoperative heterosexual mating tests. A significant postlesion decrease in the postejaculatory interval (PEI), number of intromissions, number of incomplete mounts and the ejaculation latency from the first intromission (ELI) occurred. Norepinephrine levels were significantly reduced in the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus, but not in the preoptic area. The only statistically significant correlations between NE concentrations and behavior in the lesioned animals were negative (hippocampal NE with PEI and ELI). The results support the hypothesis that rostral midbrain lesions disinhibit some components of male rodent copulatory behavior, but suggest that a system or systems other than the DNE bundle may be responsible for this disinhibition.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 413-447).

Adaptive reproductive behavior requires the ability to recognize and approach possible mating partners in the environment. Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) provide a useful animal model by which to study the neural processing of sexual signals, as mate recognition in this species relies almost exclusively on the perception of social odors. In the laboratory, male hamsters prefer to investigate female odors compared to male odors, and this opposite-sex odor preference provides a sensitive measure of the underlying neural processing of sexual stimuli. In addition to chemosensory cues, reproductive behavior in hamsters also requires sufficient levels of circulating gonadal steroid hormones, which reflect the reproductive state of the animal. These chemosensory and hormone signals are processed within an interconnected network of ventral forebrain nuclei, and within this network, the posteromedial cortical amygdala (PMCo) and medial amygdala (MA) are the only nuclei that both receive substantial chemosensory input and are also highly sensitive to steroid hormones. Although a large body of evidence suggests that the MA is critical for generating attraction to sexual odors, the specific role of the PMCo in regulating odor-guided aspects of male reproductive behavior has never been directly tested. Furthermore, detailed analyses of the MA suggest that separate, but interconnected sub-regions within this nucleus process odors differently. Specifically, the anterior MA (MeA) receives the majority of chemosensory input and responds to a variety of social odors, whereas the posterodorsal MA (MePD) receives less chemosensory input but contains the vast majority of steroid receptors. In order to further elucidate how the PMCo and/or MA process sexual odors, this dissertation addressed the following research questions: (1) Is the PMCo required for the expression of either opposite-sex odor preferences or male copulatory behavior? (2) Are functional interactions between MeA and MePD required for the expression of opposite-sex odor preferences? (3) How do MeA and MePD regulate odor responses within the MePD and MeA, respectively? (4) Are odor and/or hormone cues conveyed directly between MeA and MePD? Together, these experiments provide a comprehensive analysis of the functional and neuroanatomical substrates by which the brain processes sexual odors and generates appropriate behavioral responses to these stimuli.

La période périnatale est une période sensible pendant laquelle la neurophysiologie et neurocircuiterie à l’origine de nombreux comportements, notamment sexuels, se mettent en place. La gestation et la lactation sont également des périodes critiques pour les femelles qui subissent de grands remaniements physiologiques, permettant la mise en place des comportements maternels nécessaires à la survie de la descendance. Les modifications ayant lieu pendant la gestation et la lactation vont être sensibles à de nombreux facteurs, comme le stress ou l’environnement chimique, dont les perturbateurs endocriniens. L’objectif de ma thèse a été de caractériser les conséquences d’une exposition périnatale lors de la gestation et la lactation au glyphosate, herbicide très largement utilisé à travers le monde. L’exposition maternelle pendant la gestation et la lactation à une faible dose (5mg/kg pc/j soit 1/10ème de la NOAEL) a permis de mettre en évidence pour la première fois une altération des comportements maternels, de la neurogénèse hippocampale et du gyrus cingulaire, et de la plasticité synaptique par la molécule active seule mais également en formulation. Cette exposition induit également une dysbiose intestinale chez les mères. Chez la descendance, nous avons mis en évidence une hypoactivité induite chez le mâle suite au traitement de la mère par le glyphosate seul. Dans une moindre mesure, nous avons également montré une altération des comportements sexuels et de préférence olfactive des mâles exposés au glyphosate. Aucune altération de la neuroplasticité hippocampale des mâles n’a pu être observée dans nos conditions expérimentales. Chez la descendance femelle, les comportements sexuels et locomoteurs, ainsi que la neuroplasticité ne sont pas modifiés par l’exposition maternelle. L’ensemble des résultats obtenus nous a permis de mettre en évidence pour la première fois une vulnérabilité de la neurophysiologie, des comportements maternels et du microbiome suite à l’exposition à de faibles doses de glyphosate seul ou en formulation. De manière intéressante, seules les mères et la descendance mâle sont impactées au niveau comportemental. Nos résultats ont également mis en évidence pour la première fois une absence d’effets sur le comportement sexuel chez la descendance femelle. Enfin nos travaux sont les premiers à montrer des effets différentiels du glyphosate seul et de la formulation chez les mammifères. / Perinatal period is sensitive for offspring as neurophysiology and circuitry underlying behaviors take place. This period includes formation of the sexual behavior circuitry. Perinatal period is also essential for pregnant or lactating females. Indeed, females undergo major physiological changes involved in maternal behaviors. Perinatal modifications are altered by several parameters like stress or chemicals, including endocrine disruptors. The aim of my thesis was to characterize the outcomes of a perinatal exposure to glyphosate, a widely use herbicide across the world. Maternal exposure during pregnancy and lactation to a low dose of glyphosate (5mg/kg bw/d corresponding to 1/10th of the NOAEL) highlighted that maternal behavior, hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity were altered by glyphosate alone and in formulation. Maternal exposure also induced gut dysbiosis on the dams. We showed that glyphosate alone induced hypoactivity on males offspring. To a lesser extent, males sexual behavior and olfactory preference were altered after glyphosate exposure. There was no effect on hippocampal plasticity on males. Sexual behavior, locomotor activity and neuroplasticity were not impacted in female offspring after maternal exposure. Together, these results highlight for the first time effects on neurophysiology, maternal behaviors and maternal gut microbiota after low doses exposure of glyphosate alone or in formulation. Interestingly, only males offspring had behavioral outcomes. Our study was the first to investigated sexual behavior of female offspring and showed no effect of glyphosate on this parameter. Finally, our work is the first that showed differential effect between active compound and formulation in mammals.

One of the more fascinating Darwinian puzzles in sexual selection is that of copulatory wounding. For those taxa displaying this behavior, and that does not engage in traumatic insemination, the function of wound infliction during copulation remains unknown. In this study, the intention was to evaluate the purpose of copulatory wounding in Drosophila melanogaster and the consequences it might have for male and female fecundity. The present study measured the size and number of wounds that males from different stocks of Darwinian fitness imposed on females, as well as the copulation duration and the resulting fecundity. The number of wounds and the total wound size showed no apparent correlation to fecundity, but a significant difference in variation of the number of wounds inflicted on females was observed between males from two different lines of fitness. Wounded females were also considerably more common than non-wounded females, as were wounds that were paired compared to non-paired copulatory wounds. The results suggests that wounding might be an adaptive male trait and a copulatory courtship interpretable to females, implying a possible case of cryptic female choice. Since most wounds were paired, this implies that a bilaterally symmetrical organ is causing these wounds. Also, wounding was not as important for fecundity as previously thought. / Ett av de mer fascinerande Darwinistiska pusslen inom sexuell selektion är skadande under kopulationen. För de taxa som uppvisar detta beteende, och inte engagerar sig i traumatisk insemination, så är funktionen av kopulationsskador okänd. I denna studie så var avsikten att utvärdera syftet av kopulationsskador hos Drosophila melanogaster och de konsekvenser beteendet kan ha för det resulterande antalet avkomma. Denna studie uppmätte storleken och antalet skador som hanar av olika Darwinistisk fitness vållade honor, samt kopulationstiden och antalet avkomma. Antalet skador och den totala storleken av skador visade ingen signifikant korrelation till antalet avkommor, däremot uppvisades signifikanta variationsskillnader mellan hanar av två olika fitnessnivåer. Skadade honor visade sig också vara betydligt vanligare än icke skadade honor och parade skador var även vanligare än icke parade skador. Resultaten indikerade att kopulationsskador kan vara en adaptiv egenskap hos hanar och en form av uppvaktning som honorna kan tyda, vilket kan antyda ett möjligt fall av ”kryptiskt honligt val”. Eftersom de flesta skador var parade, så antyder detta att ett bilateralt symmetriskt organ orsakar skadorna. Kopulationsskador visade sig heller inte vara så viktiga som man tidigare antagit.

<p>The importance of cryptic female choice, i.e. female post-copulatory influence over male reproductive success, in driving the evolution of male traits remains controversial. The main aim of this thesis was to understand the post-copulatory consequences of sexual interactions and the importance of cryptic female choice in two species of beetle.</p><p>Males of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum use their legs to rub the lateral edges of the female elytra during mating. When manipulating female perception of this behaviour, I found that females preferentially use the sperm of males with vigorous leg rubbing when they mate with more than one male. Leg rubbing also appeared to increase female rate of oviposition. Females do not seem to gain any indirect benefits by preferring males with an intense leg rubbing behaviour since this behaviour was found to have very low narrow sense heritability and did not appear to be condition dependent in its expression.</p><p>Males of the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus have spiny genitalia that harm their mates. Females kick males during copulation and when prevented from kicking, suffered reduced lifetime offspring production as a consequence of more extensive injuries. Males were not able to delay female remating, increase rate of oviposition or increase sperm precedence by inflicting relatively severe injuries to non-kicking females. Hence, the injuries appear to be side effects of male efforts to remain in copula. When copulation duration was manipulated, ejaculate size and female lifetime offspring production increased with the length of copulation. Females reduced their mating rate when they had access to water, suggesting that they obtain water from the large ejaculates and trade-off their need for additional water against the costs of mating. Males may then reduce the benefits of remating by providing their mates with a large amount of water. Females did not increase their remating propensity to avoid inbreeding when they had mated to brothers. Together, these studies reveal the complexity of sexual interactions and the importance of post-copulatory processes for the fitness of both males and females.</p>