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Experimental alteration of litter sex ratios in a mammal
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 04:46 authored by Elissa Cameron, Lemons, PR, Bateman, PW, Bennett, NCAdaptive 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.
History
Publication title
Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological SciencesVolume
275Issue
1632Pagination
323-327ISSN
0962-8452Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
The Royal Society PublishingPlace of publication
6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5AgRights statement
Copyright © 2007 The Royal SocietyRepository Status
- Restricted