Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigate...Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigates the relationship between salivary testosterone levels and sex-role orientation using Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scores in adult males. Twenty-one males (aged 18-24) completed the BSRI and provided saliva samples for assay. BSRI Femininity scores were significantly negatively correlated with testosterone levels;the higher the Femininity scores, the lower the testosterone levels. There was no relation of BSRI Masculinity scores with testosterone levels. Our preliminary results add to the research suggesting that sex-role orientation in males may be partially related to underlying hormone levels.展开更多
Mating decisions can be affected by intrasexual competition and sensitive to operational sex-ratio （OSR） changes in the population. Conceptually, it is assumed that both male and female matecompetition may interfere...Mating decisions can be affected by intrasexual competition and sensitive to operational sex-ratio （OSR） changes in the population. Conceptually, it is assumed that both male and female matecompetition may interfere with female reproductive decisions. Experimentally, however, the focus has been on the effect of male competition on mate choice. In many species with paternal care as in the common goby Pomatoschistus microps, the OSR is often female-biased and female matecompetition for access to available nesting males occurs. Using the same protocol for 3 experi- ments testing the effect of a perceived risk of female mate-competition, I studied female preferences for nest-holding males differing in its nest size （large/small）, body size （large/small）, and nest status （with/without eggs already in nest） and measured mating decisions, spawning latencies, and clutch size. Regardless of the social context, females preferred males with larger nests. A preference for large males was only expressed in presence of additional females. For nest status, there was a tendency for females to prefer mating with males with an empty nest. Here, female-female competition increased the propensity to mate. The results of this study show that females are sensitive to a female competitive social environment and suggest that in choice situations, females respond to the social context mainly by mating decisions per se rather than by adjusting the clutch size or spawning latency. Females base their mating decisions not only on a male＇s nest size but also on male size as an additional cue of mate quality in the presence of additional females.展开更多
文摘Previous research has implicated the involvement of androgens in sex-role orientation in males, from studies of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (a purported marker of prenatal testosterone). The present pilot study investigates the relationship between salivary testosterone levels and sex-role orientation using Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) scores in adult males. Twenty-one males (aged 18-24) completed the BSRI and provided saliva samples for assay. BSRI Femininity scores were significantly negatively correlated with testosterone levels;the higher the Femininity scores, the lower the testosterone levels. There was no relation of BSRI Masculinity scores with testosterone levels. Our preliminary results add to the research suggesting that sex-role orientation in males may be partially related to underlying hormone levels.
文摘Mating decisions can be affected by intrasexual competition and sensitive to operational sex-ratio （OSR） changes in the population. Conceptually, it is assumed that both male and female matecompetition may interfere with female reproductive decisions. Experimentally, however, the focus has been on the effect of male competition on mate choice. In many species with paternal care as in the common goby Pomatoschistus microps, the OSR is often female-biased and female matecompetition for access to available nesting males occurs. Using the same protocol for 3 experi- ments testing the effect of a perceived risk of female mate-competition, I studied female preferences for nest-holding males differing in its nest size （large/small）, body size （large/small）, and nest status （with/without eggs already in nest） and measured mating decisions, spawning latencies, and clutch size. Regardless of the social context, females preferred males with larger nests. A preference for large males was only expressed in presence of additional females. For nest status, there was a tendency for females to prefer mating with males with an empty nest. Here, female-female competition increased the propensity to mate. The results of this study show that females are sensitive to a female competitive social environment and suggest that in choice situations, females respond to the social context mainly by mating decisions per se rather than by adjusting the clutch size or spawning latency. Females base their mating decisions not only on a male＇s nest size but also on male size as an additional cue of mate quality in the presence of additional females.
