Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Zoology, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 20-26).

Based on five semi-structured in-person interviews with self-identified polyamorous people, I argue that people construct their relationships from the options they view available to them. Polyamory, the philosophy and practice of ethical and open non-monogamy, became how the five interviewees in my study decided to live out their relationships only after having heard of the term and concept. They found that polyamory answered crisis in their relationships and relationship views for which monogamy could not provide an adequate solution. The in-depth interviews conducted focussed on how polyamorous people envisioned, created, and maintained their multiple, loving relationships. The results speak to how people create their world from what they see around them and the options they feel are available to them. It points to how invisibility of options curtails people from being able to choose a life suited to them.

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From a Darwinian perspective, both history and environment are causal factors for change in animal social behaviour. Because behaviour leaves no fossil evidence researchers have focused on how social systems help animals and humans adapt to their current environments and have only been able to make tentative suggestions about how such systems may have evolved. However, a new theoretical framework, based on Darwin’s insights, allows phylogenetic relatedness to be incorporated into comparative analyses to discover the ancestral states of social behaviour and the ultimate drivers of change in human and primate societies. This thesis uses these new methods to investigate the history and drivers of change in human and primate sociality and proposes a new model of primate social evolution. Analyses of mating systems suggest that social monogamy in humans and other primates is the result of infanticide risk brought about by life history changes. These methods were also able to reveal how changes in inheritance rules to matriliny among Bantu-speaking societies, contributed to a switch to matrilocal residence, which in turn contributed to a change from polygynous marriage to monogamy. Cultural history effects change in both descent and residence patterns, while geographical proximity also affects descent, but residence and environmental factors drive changes in marriage. This approach may provide a way for the various schools for the study of human and primate social behaviour to collaborate more closely and provide ultimate answers to the drivers of change in human society.

Parental care is one of the most successful strategies for providing offspring survival. There are differences in type of care between taxa. There are biparental care, maternal care, paternal care and alloparental care. Bees of the genus Ceratina are suitable model taxon for study of parental care evolution. There is a long time known maternal care and eusociality, in this genus. A species of the genus Ceratina, which has biparental care, is introduced in this thesis. Field experiments were performed from 2011 to 2013 in Podyjí National Park, especially in locality Havraníky heath. Four model species, which are occurring in the Czech Republic, were selected: C. chalybea, C. cucurbitina, C. cyanea and C. nigrolabiata. Artificial nesting opportunities were installed to the field site. Relationship between individuals in nests of C. nigrolabiata was examined by newly developed microsatellite loci. All studied species are solitary in nesting behavior. Their nest structure and nesting phenology is described. Guarding of full brood nest to adulthood of offspring is characteristic behavioral trait for Ceratina bees. This guarding is essential for offspring survival. Experimental nests with removed mother often failed by ant predation, parasitation by chalcid wasp and nest usurpation by other individuals of the...

Apesar de a monogamia social ser dominante entre as aves, análises genéticas revelaram relações de parentesco inesperadas, evidenciando diferentes estratégias de reprodução, como a paternidade extra-par e o parasitismo de ninho. Espécies de passeriformes estão entre as mais promíscuas, com altas taxas de paternidade extra-par, enquanto em aves marinhas esse comportamento demonstrou ser menos frequente. Pinguins (Família Spheniscidae) compõem um grupo de 18 espécies de aves marinhas pelágicas e que tem em comum a filopatria, fidelidade a um parceiro e intenso cuidado biparental. Portanto, espera-se que apresentem um comportamento estritamente monogâmico e taxas de paternidade extra-par insignificantes. Avaliamos pela primeira vez o sistema reprodutivo dos Pinguins-de-Magalhães através de uma abordagem genética, buscando investigar a existência e frequência de paternidade extra-par e parasitismo de ninho. O parentesco de 88 filhotes de 44 ninhos de uma colônia na Ilha Quiroga (Argentina) foi determinado com base em análises de 9 marcadores microssatélites. Encontramos baixas taxas de parasitismo de ninho (6%), mas altas taxas de paternidade extra-par (31% e 48% dos ninhos com pelo menos 1 filhote extra-par). Entre os dois anos coletados, encontramos uma pequena diferença na incidência de infidelidade (29% em 2010; 32% em 2011), mas não houve relação com as condições climáticas do período de reprodução da espécie. Além disso, apesar da alta taxa de filhotes extra-par, não encontramos diferença significativa na diversidade genética e nem viés da razão sexual secundária. Acreditamos que a alta taxa de paternidade extra-par encontrada possa ter relação com o comportamento reprodutivo em colônia, a densidade populacional, o sincronismo reprodutivo, ou que parte da paternidade que não correspondeu aos pais sociais seja resultado de troca de parceiros antes da definição final dos casais em cada estação reprodutiva. Nosso estudo pode ajudar a melhor entender e caracterizar o sistema reprodutivo dos Pinguins-de-Magalhães e indica que a espécie é socialmente, mas não geneticamente monogâmica. / Despite the social monogamy being dominant among birds, genetic analysis revealed unexpected kinship relations, showing different reproductive strategies, such as extra-pair paternity and brood parasitism. Passerine species are among the most promiscuous, with high extra-pair paternity rates, while in seabirds this behavior is typically rather less frequent. Penguins (Spheniscidae Family) are a group of 18 species of pelagic seabirds that have in common philopatric behavior, faithfulness to one partner and intense biparental care. Therefore, they are expected to have a strictly monogamous behavior and insignificant rates of extra-pair paternity. For the first time, we evaluated the reproductive system of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) through genetic analysis in order to investigate the existence and frequency of extra-pair paternity and brood parasitism. The kinship of 88 offspring of 44 nests from a colony on Quiroga Island (Argentina) was determined based on the analyses of 9 microsatellite markers. We found low rates of brood parasitism (6%), but high extra-pair paternity rates (31% and 48% of nests with at least one extra-pair offspring). Between the two years sampled, we found a small difference in the incidence of infidelity (29% in 2010; 32% in 2011), but no connection with the climatic conditions of each breeding season. In addition, despite the high rate of extra-pair offspring, we found no significant difference in the genetic diversity and no bias in the secondary sex ratio. We believe that the high rate of extra-pair paternity found in our study may be a result of their reproductive behavior of nesting in colonies, breeding synchrony, density, or that part of the mismatching paternity is due mate switching. Our study may help to better understand and characterize the reproductive system of Magellanic penguins and indicates that this species is socially but not sexually monogamous.

Family-living has been recognized as a necessary prerequisite for the evolution of advanced cooperative societies, yet the evolutionary and ecological processes that drive the coupling of different forms of cooperation in family-based societies are still poorly understood. In my dissertation, I investigate the correlated evolution of parental care, monogamy, and cooperative breeding in a variety of family-based taxa. I explore the mating and social behavior of family-living beetles with incipient cooperation to better understand the factors driving these social traits. Specifically, I evaluate different causes of extra-pair mating in socially monogamous beetles, the potential benefits that young adult offspring may gain from remaining in the family group, and how these behaviors correspond to different ecological niches. These studies demonstrated that many of the factors predicted to favor family-living in cooperatively breeding animals fail to explain delayed dispersal and family cohesion in this beetle group. In a phylogenetic comparative study of birds, I further evaluate how ecological selective pressures drive the correlated evolution of monogamy, biparental cooperation, and cooperative breeding. Taken together, these studies have implications for our general understanding of the evolution of cooperation, and suggest the action of previously unrecognized processes in shaping and pairing social behaviors.

Background: Consensual non-monogamous couples (CNMCs) are viewed less favourably than their heteromononormative counterparts by the general population and by healthcare providers. Research indicates that they are less likely to seek health care and are at greater risk for STIs and HIV. This stigma and judgment perceived by CNMCs can be even further compounded when these couples choose to have a child. No study to date has looked at consensual non-monogamous parenting couples (CNMPCs) during the transition to parenthood. The aim of the present study was to explore Manitoban CNMCs’ perceptions of the conciliation between their parenting role and their sexual lifestyle during the transition to parenthood. Methodology: This mixed methods descriptive, exploratory study used a triangulation design-convergence model. Six participants identifying as CNMCs during the transition to parenthood were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide as well as completing an online questionnaire. Results: The participants in this sample experienced challenges in regard to their transition to parenthood as many other parents do, yet this transition was more harmonious for some participants compared to others. Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) was a sexual lifestyle chosen either before or during this transition. However, the lifestyle did stop during conception and pregnancy, and was resumed several months after childbirth. Relationship breakdown may occur, but not necessarily associated with CNM. The conciliation of parenting and sexual roles is facilitated when communication and intimacy are present between partners. Participants emphasized the importance of family before their chosen sexual lifestyle. The relationship with health care providers is critical for participants of CNM as it impacts how they seek health care or disclose their lifestyle. This is more important during the transition to parenthood as more challenges can be present. Three phases that CNMCs pass through were also identified, contemplation, acting and incorporation, to integrate CNM as a lifestyle. Discussion: These findings permitted a closer look at the conciliation of the parenting role and the sexual lifestyle of CNMPCs during their transition to parenthood. These findings demonstrated not only how CNMPCs were similar and different from participants in other studies, but also highlighted how they were uniquely distinct. This distinction appears to stem from a certain resilience gained from the three phases of the incorporation of CNM as a lifestyle that appears to buffer these couples in situations of stress. A new proposed model, CNMPCs’ Model of Resilience during the Incorporation of CNM as a Lifestyle While Parenting, is suggested. There is a need for more psychosexual education for perinatal nurses in regard to sexuality minorities such as CNMPCs in the context of the transition to parenthood.

This essay aims to examine what subject positions are possible within the discourse of relationship anarchy. Through semi-structured interviews with four people who define themselves as relationship anarchists I've made a discourse analysis to determine how these relationship anarchists explain what, in the discourse they’re in, is described as an relationship anarchistic way of being, what isn’t and how they relate to this. Relationship anarchy is described as an ideology based on freedom. It is about the right to define their relationships as they like, as something constantly changing and that does not hold a specific value based on its label. But it is apparent that the freedom is relative when it occurs in a discourse where other standards are created. Based on these standards, both the hegemonic discourse, where being a couple is the relationship standard, and the counter-hegemonic relationship anarchist discourse, the respondents are positioning themselves as something different from that, and that their way of practicing relationships are based on responsibility and communication. Based on this I find that there are three possible subject positions within relationship anarchy: the idealogical, the player and the responsible.

Monogamy values and the influence of masculine conformity were examined using a sample of 154 gay men within the Greater Toronto Area. Monogamy values were measured on four dimensions: emotional monogamy, sexual monogamy, perceptions of monogamy as relationship-enhancing and perceptions of monogamy as a sacrifice. Gay men generally found monogamy to be enhancing, however, they tended to value emotional monogamy more than sexual monogamy. Gay men with traditionally masculine attitudes valued sexual monogamy less than those who held non-traditional attitudes. Emotional monogamy was not associated with masculine attitudes. This relationship of masculine attitudes and monogamy values was moderated by length of longest relationship experienced, religiosity, as well as current relational status. Results are interpreted through evolutionary, social learning and queer theory perspectives to suggest that monogamy values are a multi-faceted construct. Counsellors would benefit by asking questions regarding monogamy values expecting multiple interpretations as well applications.