Influence of ejaculation frequency on semen characteristics in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Marson, Jocelyne; Gervais, Debra A.; Meuris, Sylvain; Cooper, Robert L.; Jouannet, Pierre

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0850043

Cited by 50 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Although our results indicate that females may have some control over male ejaculation, they apparently do not use this to select certain males as mating (ejaculation) partners. Since male vertebrates are known to allocate their sperm between matings (Packer & Pusey 1982;Wedell et al 2002) and since high frequencies of ejaculations can lead to a decrease in sperm quality (Synott et al 1981;Marson et al 1989;Preston et al 2001), calling may enable females to (at least partially) influence the allocation of this limited resource. Whether or not cryptic female choice mechanisms operate to influence sperm transport or selection at a post-ejaculatory level (Birkhead & Pizzari 2002) in this species is not yet known.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female Barbary macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ) copulation calls do not reveal the fertile phase but influence mating outcome

et al. 2007

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In a number of primate species, females utter loud and distinctive calls during mating. Here we aim to clarify the information content and function of Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) copulation calls by testing (i) whether or not copulation calls advertise the female fertile phase and (ii) whether and how copulation calls influence male ejaculatory behaviour. In order to do this, we combined hormone measurements with acoustic analysis and behavioural observations. In contrast to a previous study implying that the structure of copulation calls indicates the timing of the fertile phase, our results, using objective endocrine criteria for assessing ovulation, provide evidence that the structure of copulation calls of female Barbary macaques does not reveal the timing of the fertile phase. More importantly, females seem to influence the likelihood of ejaculation by calling versus remaining silent and by adjusting the timing of call onset. Females make use of this ability to influence mating outcome to ensure ejaculatory matings with almost all males in the group. In addition, calls given during ejaculatory copulations differ from those during non-ejaculatory copulations, providing information about mating outcome for listeners. We conclude that in this species, copulation calls apparently serve to enhance sperm competition and maximize paternity confusion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female Barbary macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ) copulation calls do not reveal the fertile phase but influence mating outcome

et al. 2007

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“…Alternatively, it may be possible that sperm reserves of the dominant males are depleted by frequent ejaculation as in humans [Freund, 1963;Levin et al, 1986]. In a study of adolescent common chimpanzees, it was found that repeated ejaculation had an adverse effect on sperm quality; however, the effect was less pronounced than observed in humans [Marson et al, 1989]. Again, nothing is known about the effect of frequent ejaculation in bonobos or about its relation to age or social rank.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Dominance Rank, Mating and Reproductive Success in Captive Bonobos (Pan paniscus)

Marvan¹,

Stevens²,

Roeder³

et al. 2006

IJFP

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In the recent past, application of DNA genotyping techniques has enabled researchers to more accurately test relationships between dominance rank (DR), mating success (MS) and reproductive success (RS). Paternity studies often reveal that reproductive outcome does not always correlate with male DR and/or MS and thus open room for discussion and interpretation of alternative reproductive tactics of both sexes. In this study, we analysed male DR, MS and RS in a group of bonobos at Twycross Zoo (UK). Genetic relationships were determined using 8 tetrameric microsatellite loci. Despite clear and asymmetric dominance relationships, analysed using normalised David’s scores based on a dyadic index of dominance among the group’s 3 mature males, we found that the most dominant male did not sire the most offspring. In fact, both infants conceived during the observation period were found to be sired by the lower-ranking males. Although the alpha male had almost exclusive mating access to one of the females during the time she was showing a maximal anogenital swelling, her infant was sired by the lowest-ranking male who mostly mated with her when outside the maximal swelling period. This result suggests that either sperm competition operates and/or ovulation is decoupled from the phase of maximal anogenital swelling which could allow greater female choice.

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“…This may be because the sperm of the dominant male is limited (Dewsbury 1982, Marson et al 1989, Wedell et al 2002, Preston et al 2003 Female primates show situation-dependent flexibility in mating behavior that may act to reduce the risk of sexually selected infanticide by nonsire males (Hrdy 1979, Hrdy & Whitten 1987, Smuts & Smuts 1993. For example, where group takeover by a new male leads to a high risk of infanticide for infants sired by a previous male, females that are already pregnant solicit the new male for mating ("pseudo-oestrous", Table 15.1), resulting in paternity confusion and reduction in the risk of infanticide.…”

Section: Harassment and Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative reproductive tactics in primates

Setchell

2008

Alternative Reproductive Tactics

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Influence of ejaculation frequency on semen characteristics in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Cited by 50 publications

References 31 publications

Female Barbary macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ) copulation calls do not reveal the fertile phase but influence mating outcome

Female Barbary macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ) copulation calls do not reveal the fertile phase but influence mating outcome

Male Dominance Rank, Mating and Reproductive Success in Captive Bonobos (Pan paniscus)

Alternative reproductive tactics in primates

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