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Experimental alteration of litter sex ratios in a mammal
Citation
Cameron, EZ and Lemons, PR and Bateman, PW and Bennett, NC, Experimental alteration of litter sex ratios in a mammal, Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences, 275, (1632) pp. 323-327. ISSN 0962-8452 (2008) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2007 The Royal Society
Official URL: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/275...
DOI: doi:10.1098/rspb.2007.1401
Abstract
Adaptive theory predicts that mothers would be advantaged by adjusting the sex ratio of their offspring in relation to their offspring's future reproductive success. Studies investigating sex ratio variation in mammals, including humans, have obtained notoriously inconsistent results, except when maternal condition is measured around conception. Several mechanisms for sex ratio adjustment have been proposed. Here, we test the hypothesis that glucose concentrations around conception influence sex ratios. The change in glucose levels resulted in a change in sex ratios, with more daughters being born to females with experimentally lowered glucose, and with the change in glucose levels being more predictive than the glucose levels per se. We provide evidence for a mechanism, which, in tandem with other mechanisms, could explain observed sex ratio variation in mammals.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Trivers–Willard hypothesis sex allocation glucose maternal investment |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Behavioural ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Terrestrial biodiversity |
UTAS Author: | Cameron, EZ (Professor Elissa Cameron) |
ID Code: | 67405 |
Year Published: | 2008 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 81 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2011-03-03 |
Last Modified: | 2011-04-08 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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