Publications by authors named "R M Santymire"
The Challenge Hypothesis is an influential framework for understanding how androgens are involved in the promotion of competitive behavior during mating-related challenges and has been tested extensively in studies across scientific disciplines. Mixed support in psychological research led scholars to develop the Dual Hormone Hypothesis as a potential path forward, which argues that glucocorticoids moderate the relationship between androgens and status-striving. In the current study, we examine the Challenge Hypothesis and the Dual Hormone Hypothesis in wild male mountain gorillas, representing the first time the latter hypothesis has been tested in a non-human primate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The endangered black-footed ferret population has seen declining reproductive success over the last 30 years due to possible environmental and dietary factors, particularly inbreeding depression.
- Research analyzed semen proteome and transcriptome data from both wild and captive ferrets, identifying unique proteins and transcriptomic differences that suggest diet influences fertility.
- Findings suggest that improved understanding of these molecular mechanisms could aid conservation efforts to boost fertility rates in ex situ ferret populations.
Article Synopsis
- Reproductive microbiomes play a crucial role in fertility and reproductive health in humans, but data on these microbiomes in most animal species, especially endangered ones like black-footed ferrets, is limited.
- A study characterized the male and female microbiomes of 59 black-footed ferrets using advanced sequencing techniques, analyzing their links to fertility markers such as offspring viability and sperm concentration.
- Findings revealed lower variation in vaginal microbiomes, the presence of soil bacteria in wild ferrets, and significant correlations between sperm concentration and specific bacterial taxa in males, indicating the importance of understanding microbiomes for improving conservation efforts.
Article Synopsis
- Environmental variation affects reproductive success in black-footed ferrets, both in human care and the wild, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.
- The study explored DNA methylation as a key epigenetic factor influencing reproductive health, finding significant differences in sperm quality between ferrets in ex situ facilities and those in the wild
- Results indicate that DNA methylation may regulate reproductive traits, highlighting its potential role in the fertility issues faced by male black-footed ferrets in managed care.