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Can male white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) detect female reproductive state?

Can male white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) detect female reproductive state? AbstractFor mammalian males, copulating with females during ovulation is critical toreproductive success. However male knowledge of ovulation may not always beadvantageous for females, as it could hinder mate choice or promoteharassment. White-faced saki monkeys live in variably monogamous andpolygamous social groups and hence females may have multiple motivations toconceal ovulatory timing. White-faced sakis further show no obvious physicalor behavioral signs of ovulation, although they do use scent in a variety ofcontexts, including sexual behavior. We collected data on three wild groupsof white-faced sakis at Brownsberg Naturepark, Suriname in order to assesswhether male copulations are coordinated with female ovulatory timing. Werecorded all occurrences of copulations and genital inspections, andcollected fecal samples from females which were radioimmunoassayed to obtainestradiol and progesterone levels. We found that males copulated throughoutthe female reproductive cycle, although the association between copulationand reproductive state varied between dyads. Only one male–female dyadshowed significantly more copulations than expected during ovulation.However four of five dyads copulated less than expected with pregnantfemales, suggesting that males may be able to differentiate cycling fromnon-cycling females. While genital inspections were distributed randomlywith regard to female reproductive state, the decision to copulate was not:males were more likely to mate with both ovulating and cycling females thanwith non-cycling females after genital inspection. Regardless, males werenot more likely to copulate with an ovulating vs. a cycling (non-ovulating)female. These data indicate that while males may receive olfactoryinformation on female hormonal status, they do not make entirely accuratedecisions with regard to copulation timing. This inaccuracy may be due tomales' inability to detect ovulation, or alternately a lack of motivation tolimit copulations solely to conceptive periods. Pair familiarity and sexualexperience may also play a role in copulation accuracy. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Behaviour Brill

Can male white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) detect female reproductive state?

Thompson, C.L.; Whitten, P.L.; Norconk, M.A.
Behaviour , Volume 148 (11-13): 19 – Jan 1, 2011
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References (49)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0005-7959
eISSN
1568-539X
DOI
10.1163/000579511X605227
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractFor mammalian males, copulating with females during ovulation is critical toreproductive success. However male knowledge of ovulation may not always beadvantageous for females, as it could hinder mate choice or promoteharassment. White-faced saki monkeys live in variably monogamous andpolygamous social groups and hence females may have multiple motivations toconceal ovulatory timing. White-faced sakis further show no obvious physicalor behavioral signs of ovulation, although they do use scent in a variety ofcontexts, including sexual behavior. We collected data on three wild groupsof white-faced sakis at Brownsberg Naturepark, Suriname in order to assesswhether male copulations are coordinated with female ovulatory timing. Werecorded all occurrences of copulations and genital inspections, andcollected fecal samples from females which were radioimmunoassayed to obtainestradiol and progesterone levels. We found that males copulated throughoutthe female reproductive cycle, although the association between copulationand reproductive state varied between dyads. Only one male–female dyadshowed significantly more copulations than expected during ovulation.However four of five dyads copulated less than expected with pregnantfemales, suggesting that males may be able to differentiate cycling fromnon-cycling females. While genital inspections were distributed randomlywith regard to female reproductive state, the decision to copulate was not:males were more likely to mate with both ovulating and cycling females thanwith non-cycling females after genital inspection. Regardless, males werenot more likely to copulate with an ovulating vs. a cycling (non-ovulating)female. These data indicate that while males may receive olfactoryinformation on female hormonal status, they do not make entirely accuratedecisions with regard to copulation timing. This inaccuracy may be due tomales' inability to detect ovulation, or alternately a lack of motivation tolimit copulations solely to conceptive periods. Pair familiarity and sexualexperience may also play a role in copulation accuracy.

Journal

Behaviour – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2011

Keywords: PROGESTERONE; COPULATION; HONEST SIGNALS; ESTRADIOL; CONCEALED OVULATION; PRIMATES; SEXUAL EXPERIENCE

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