Seasonal variation in fecal testosterone levels in free-ranging male Japanese macaques - PubMed (original) (raw)

Comparative Study

doi: 10.1002/ajp.20366.

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Comparative Study

Seasonal variation in fecal testosterone levels in free-ranging male Japanese macaques

Yasuyuki Muroyama et al. Am J Primatol. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

Seasonal variation in fecal testosterone levels in free-ranging male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) was examined with reference to their dominance rank and age class. Six adult (>or=7 years old, three higher-ranking and three lower-ranking) and four adolescent (5-6 years old, two higher-ranking and two lower-ranking) males were selected as target animals. Fecal samples of these males were collected during the first 3-5 days of each month and analyzed by the method developed by Barrett et al. [Primates 43:29-39, 2002 b]. Testosterone levels varied significantly across the 12 months, and were highest in the early and middle parts of the mating season (i.e., October and November). Higher-ranking adult males displayed a peak testosterone level in October, whereas lower-ranking adults had no clear peak in the mating season. Such a difference in testosterone peaks in males could provide higher-ranking males more opportunities to fertilize females at first ovulation in the mating season than lower-ranking males.

(c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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