Extra-pair paternity, resulting from sexual promiscuity, is frequently detected in socially monogamous passerines. Previous studies on extra-pair paternity in birds have identified several traits correlated with increased fertilization success of males. However, the effect of experimental manipulation of ornament expression on male fertilization success has only seldom been evaluated. The aim of this thesis is to reveal the potential link between the size of a trait suposedly playing a role in female mate choice decision and male fertilization success in collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis), using experimental manipulation of male forehead white patch size. In addition, mating success, mating speed of the manipulated and control individuals and size of a brood (a proxy for female reproductive investments) were evaluated. Results indicate that forehead patch size manipulation did not affect male social pairing success (mating speed), his social mate reproductive investments (brood size) or male extra-pair and within-pair fertilization success. Keywords: extra-pair paternity, sexual selection, reproductive success, collared flycatcher

Extremely polymorphic genes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a significant role in the function of immune system by recognizing heterogeneous particles, mainly pathogenic origin. Previous research on various vertebrate species indicates that MHC influences individual body odour and mate choice preferences. Many individuals tend to prefer MHC dissimilar partner so that warrants them an offspring resistant against wider spectrum of infections. Research on MHC-related mate preferences in humans, however, is inconclusive to date. Several studies indicate that women not taking hormonal contraceptives prefer the smell of MHC dissimilar partners while other studies have not come to this conclusion. This can be caused by the absence of potentially influencing factors like the menstrual cycle phase. The aim of this study was to test MHC-similarity mate choice preferences in odour, facial and vocal modalities. In particular, we focused on a potential effect of hormonal contraception. Furtermore, we tested preferential shifts across the menstrual cycle by comparing women's preferences in the follicular and the luteal phase in pill and non-pill users. A group of 52 women in different phases of their menstrual cycle rated odour samples, photos and vocal recordings taken from 51 men. All...

Previous studies have pointed out an interesting fact: the use of hormonal contraceptives modifies the partner preferences of women towards men more feminine and genetically less compatible. This master thesis first tried to experimentally verify whether these different preferences are reflected in real mate choice outside the context of the laboratory. It includes two studies comparing partner satisfaction and relationship dynamics in couples that have been formed under the influence of pills versus under the influence of the natural menstrual cycle. Study 1 includes 3116 mothers and was conducted through an online questionnaire. The second study collected representative data from 1605 Czech men and women aged 35 to 65 years representing the population of the CZ also through a hand-to- hand questionnaire. Study 1 confirmed the assumption in several ways: hormonal contraception users (during the mate choice) assessed their partners as less attractive and masculine compared with women who naturally cycled at that time. We also found their sexual satisfaction was reduced, however, they were more satisfied with non-sexual aspects of the relationship. In contrast to established hypotheses Study 1 found that the partnerships formed under the influence of hormonal contraceptives separated significantly...

On thebasisofculturaltransmission, animplicitassociationcouldbecreatedbetweenformalclothing and expectationsconcerningthesocial status ofitswearer. Imitationofsuccessfulindividuals by meansofgroomingcanincreasetheprestige and mate value, whichcanbereflectedupon direct interactionwithothers. Displaysofpride and self-esteem as a sign ofhighsocial status providevaluableinformationtowardspotentialpartners. Feelingsofpride and successinvokedby the type ofclothingcouldaffectnonverbalexpressions. Changes in behavior as a resultofwearinghigh status clothesmaybeconnected to nonverbaltraitswhich are linked to perceived dominance, self-esteem and attractiveness. Studiesindicatethatmenwho display more dynamic and expansivenonverbaltraits are rated by women as more attractive and more masculine. They are alsorated as more dominant by othermen in comparisonwithmen on whom these nonverbaltraits do not manifest. Wetestedthe influence offormal and casualclothes on male nonverbal display and itsjudgment by women and menregarding dominance, self-esteem and attractiveness. Wehypothesizedthattherewilloccurgreateramountsofdynamic and expansivenonverbaltraits in menwearingformalclothesthan in thesamemenwearingcasualclothes. Further, wehypothesizedthatthewearersofformalclotheswillberated by independent raters as more...

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For a sexually reproducing species, the two major decisions facing all individuals are when and with whom to reproduce. When scaled to the population level, the outcome from all individual decisions determines reproductive variance, and age-class contribution to population growth rate. Both of these attributes determine a population‟s effective size (Ne), which is directly correlated with its fitness, persistence probability, and adaptability. The questions of when and with whom to reproduce, and their subsequent effects on Ne and age-at-maturity were assessed for wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations. Mating pairs were significantly size-assortative, with individual length accounting for 37% of the variation. This pattern of size assortative mate choice resulted in a reproductive strategy closer to monogamy than polygamy. Of all reproducing adults (n=157), 80% (n=126) produced only one full-sibling family, and only 6% (n= 9) contributed to more than two full-sibling families. The number of families and offspring contributed increased with length for both males and females. Comparison of the effective population size estimate to the adult census size (Nc) estimate returned an Ne:Nc ratio of 0.49 averaged over both populations. This value is nearly five times greater than the average reported across 165 (0.14) and 102 (0.10) different species. Age-at-maturity ranged from 0 to 2 years, with the proportion of age-0 and age-1 individuals maturing in a given year dependent upon growth opportunities determined primarily by environmental conditions. Mature fish were significantly larger than immature fish within an age-class, however, survival rates of mature and immature fish were similar. Furthermore, parental length did not influence offspring survival. These data suggest that the cost of early maturation is instead manifested through a reduction in egg number for females, and a reduced ability to acquire mates for males, both determined by an individual‟s size. Indeed, fecundity predicted by mean length of immature and mature fish within an age-class would result in mature fish producing an average of 38% (age-0) and 33% (age-1) more eggs than immature fish. These findings are discussed in the context of population persistence given the trend of increasing habitat fragmentation and looming climate change.

En el año 2018 existieron 67 países que exportaron con la partida arancelaria 090300, el producto de Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) un total de $ 196 954 000, de este resultado Sudamérica es la región que en una gran mayoría a exportado esta materia, teniendo a Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Ecuador como los principales países. Este último país, ha venido exportando Guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes) utilizando la misma partida arancelaria que la Yerba mate, ya que es una planta del mismo género que la antes mencionada, registrando desde octubre del 2018 y setiembre del 2019, cantidades exportadas de 251 556,85 kg, y como su principal mercado Estados Unidos. Mientras que, en el Perú, donde también crece esta planta, específicamente en la provincia de San Ignacio–Cajamarca, no se está aprovechando este cultivo y solo se consume de manera local. Por ello este proyecto es una propuesta de industrialización de la hoja de Guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes) para otorgarle valor agregado, iniciando con la evaluación de los diversos productos que se elaboran a partir de esta materia y que exporta Ecuador, obteniéndose que la hoja triturada es la mejor opción para la exportación, debiéndose a su gran cantidad de exportación de 238 894,98 kg. Así también se determinó que el país a exportar es Estados Unidos, de donde se abarcará entre un 15% y 20% durante los años 2026-2030 de la oferta que ofrece Ecuador, ya que el Perú no cuenta con la materia para ofertar. En tanto para el diseño de la planta, a través de una macro localización, micro localización y uso del método de ránking de factores se determinó que esta estará localizada en la provincia de San Ignacio. Por último, los indicadores como el Valor actual neto y la Tasa interna de retorno, necesarios para la toma de decisiones, dieron como resultado un proyecto rentable, siendo los resultados $385 454,78 y 16% de manera respectiva.

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