Male-female Pairs Research Articles

116 DEVELOPMENT OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ENDANGERED MISSISSIPPI GOPHER FROG (RANA SEVOSA) AND SPERM TRANSFER FOR IN VITRO FERTILIZATION

Species-specific differences in breeding strategies and physiology have limited the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for critically endangered amphibians in captive assurance colonies. In 2006, the Memphis Zoo (MZ) initiated a program to develop ART for the critically endangered Mississippi gopher frog after natural breeding failed. Standard gamete collection and IVF developed by MZ for reproducing endangered toads such as the Wyoming or boreal toad were applied to the gopher frog with little success, especially hormonal therapy for sperm production. Using the leopard frog as a model species for Ranids, we tested the time and dose dependence of a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) and hCG on sperm quantity and quality. Initial findings from the leopard frog study were critical in designing the study on gopher frogs. Our objectives were to (1) compare 2 different hormones administered intraperitoneal (500 IU hCG vs 15 μg LHRHa) or their combination on spermiation in gopher frogs; (2) develop in vivo oocyte maturation and ovulation protocols using LHRHa (15 μg) and hCG (500 IU); and (3) transfer this technology to another institution as proof of principle. In gopher frogs, 100 and 83% of the males produced sperm in response to the LHRHa and the combination treatment, respectively, whereas only 16% responded to hCG alone. Sperm concentration peaked at 1 h post-administration for all treatments, with the LHRH/hCG cocktail treatment producing the highest concentration of sperm (mean = 4.6 × 106 ± 1.2 × 106 sperm mL–1, n = 6). No differences in motility were observed between treatments (P > 0.05). For females, a series of priming hormones of hCG and LHRHa were given several months before an ovulatory hormone regimen resulting in ovulation by 100% of the females (n = 6), whereas animals not primed failed to ovulate (n = 4). These 3 separate priming and IVF trials conducted between 2008 and 2010 resulted in each female laying ∼2000 eggs, with an average fertilization rate of 76% for inseminated eggs and hundreds of tadpoles produced. These IVF tadpoles represent the first captive reproduction of gopher frogs and highlight how ART can be applied to conservation and genetic management of threatened species. Subsequently, we tested our IVF protocols on gopher frogs at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo using fresh (collected on site) and chilled, shipped sperm from MZ. We collected 6169 eggs from 9 hormone-primed females with all animals ovulating. A portion of the total eggs ovulated were inseminated, resulting in 2401 fertilized eggs (38.9% of total eggs collected) across 18 different male–female pairings leading to viable tadpoles. In addition, sperm transferred overnight from the MZ produced 202/441 fertilized eggs (46%). The transfer of this technology and production of endangered amphibians using chilled, shipped sperm from live animals is a conservation milestone that can be applied to other captive breeding programs.

The symbiotic shrimpAscidonia flavomaculatalives solitarily in the tunicateAscidia mentula: implications for its mating system

Symbiotic crustaceans are expected to live solitarily with their hosts when members of their host species are small (relative to symbiont body size) and structurally simple. We tested the hypothesis of a solitary lifestyle in Ascidonia flavomaculata, a symbiotic shrimp that inhabits the branchial chamber of the relatively small and structurally simple tunicate Ascidia mentula in the subtidal zone of the Islas Baleares, Spain. We found that members of A. flavomaculata dwell as solitary individuals in the branchial chamber of ascidians at a higher frequency than expected by chance alone. Given this host use pattern of A. flavomaculata, we hypothesized that males actively move among host individuals in search of receptive females. We provide several lines of evidence consistent with that hypothesis. First, a positive correlation between shrimp and host body size was detected for females, but not for males, during one of the sampling seasons. If males as well as females spend long periods of time within their host individuals, a positive correlation between shrimp and host body size should have been found for both males and females. Second, the body sizes of individuals in the few male-female pairs observed during this study were poorly correlated. If males of A. flavomaculata shared their host individuals with females for long periods of time, a positive correlation between the sizes of males and females in a pair should have been found. Lastly, the body sizes of paired males were larger than those of solitary males during summer, when reproduction was more intense. This difference in body size between paired and solitary males additionally suggests competition among putatively roaming males for receptive females. Manipulative experiments and behavioral observations are necessary to reveal the details of the mating system of A. flavomaculata and other symbiotic crustaceans with a solitary lifestyle.

Effect of polygyny on female reproductive success in the mandarin vole, Microtus mandarinus (Rodentia, Arvicolinae)

Indices of reproductive success were compared in monogamous and polygynous groups (MGs and PGs) of female mandarin voles kept under different laboratory conditions: in small cages, with frequent handling disturbance (30 MGs and 15 PGs), and in large glass tunnel systems, without disturbance (20 MGs and 16 PGs). MGs consisted of unrelated male-female pairs, and PGs consisted of two female sibs and an unrelated male each. No reproductive skew was observed within PGs; moreover, there was a positive correlation between the sibling females in the presence/absence of offspring, its total size, and the number of litters produced over 90 days. Regardless of keeping conditions, the proportion of parous females recorded over 45 days and the number of successfully reared offspring per female were greater in MGs than in PGs. Among groups kept in cages, reproductive success in PGs was lower because of a delay in breeding, reduced size of the first litter, and increased pup mortality during the first days of life. Observations on voles in tunnel systems were performed to quantify aggressive interactions and reveal the causes of pup mortality. In general, the level of aggression in both types of groups was low, but the frequency of female-female conflicts in PGs drastically increased during several days before and after the birth of the litter. Nevertheless, the sibling females in PGs used the common breeding nest and regularly fed reach other’s offspring. The causes of high pup mortality in PGs and probable advantages of communal breeding in mandarin voles are discussed.

Comparing the relative benefits of grooming-contact and full-contact pairing for laboratory-housed adult female Macaca fascicularis

Tactile social contact is the most effective form of environmental enrichment for promoting normal behavior in captive primates. For laboratory macaques housed indoors, pair housing is the most common method for socialization. Pairs can be housed either in full contact (FC), or in protected contact (PC). At Washington National Primate Research Center, PC is provided by grooming-contact (GC) cages whereby two partners are housed individually in adjacent cages with access to each other through widely spaced vertical bars. Grooming-contact has been used to accommodate research protocol restrictions and improve the likelihood of compatibility for various pairings, in part by enabling male–female pairs. This study compares the benefits between the two housing types by video recording 14 pairs of adult female Macaca fascicularis in four sequential housing phases following an ABBA design: baseline grooming-contact, full contact shortly after introduction, 1-month-later full contact, and after reversion to grooming-contact. Prior to this study, pairs had been housed compatibly in GC. Twelve of the 14 long-term pairs transitioned successfully to full contact and data presented exclude the two failed pairs. Allogrooming increased significantly when pairs first switched from GC to FC (P=0.018), but the effect did not last through 1-month-later FC phase suggesting that the initial improvement in affiliative behavior was a transitory novelty response that did not persist. Self-grooming significantly decreased between the first GC and first FC phases (P=0.016), likely due to redirected allogrooming. Non-contact affiliative behavior towards partner or other conspecifics in the room did not differ, nor did agonism towards partner or others in the room. Occurrence of abnormal, tension, manipulation, miscellaneous active, and inactive behaviors did not differ significantly across housing phases. Proximity measurements indicated that pairs were significantly out of arm's reach more often in protected contact than when in full contact (P≤0.02). Proportion of time spent in physical contact significantly increased between the first GC and first FC phases (P=0.002), but subsequently declined. For both FC phases, partners chose to spend about 50% of their time in the same cage. Few behavioral improvements were seen after pairs switched to full contact and no negative effects came of reversion to grooming contact. This study suggests that tactile contact provided through widely spaced bars (grooming-contact) is a viable alternative to full contact housing for adult female longtailed macaques. It provides a degree of social housing while allowing both partners choice and control, key concepts in contemporary animal welfare guidelines.

Birthweight of full-term twin infants in relation to sex-pair

The present study examined the effect of sex-pair on birthweight of twins. The birthweight and sex-pairs of 104 live-born full-term twin pairs were recorded and analyzed. The mean birthweight and the mean birthweight sum of a different-sex twin pair were compared with that of a same-sex twin pair. The relative incidence of low birthweight (LBW) and birthweight discordance in the different-sex twin pair and same-sex twin pair were examined. Comparing the mean birthweight of the different-sex twin pair with that of same-sex twin pair, it was 2503 ± 428 g [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2369–2637] versus 2398 ± 442 g (95% CI = 2291–2505), p > 0.05. The overall mean birthweight sum of the different-sex twin pair was 3889 ± 492 g (95% CI = 3679–4099) while, for the same-sex twin pair, it was 3665 ± 512 g (CI = 3493–3837), p > 0.05. The mean birthweight sum for the male-male twin pair was 3903 ± 536 g (95% CI = 3648–4158), while for the female-female twin pair it was 3426 ± 560 g (95% CI = 3160–3192); p < 0.05. The mean birthweight of female infants in the male-female twin pair was 2081 ± 492 g (95% CI = 1927–2235) compared with 1795 ± 502 g (95% CI = 1635–1955) for female infants in the female-female twin pair; p > 0.05. The figures for the male infants in the male-female pair and the male-male twin pair were 2136 ± 468 g (95% CI = 1989–2283) and 1976 ± 519 g (95% CI = 1804–2148), respectively; p > 0.05. Rate of delivery of LBW twin pairs in all live-born twins were: different-sex, 51.3%; male same-sex, 43.8%; and female same-sex, 75.8%. Of the 59 LBW twin pairs, 20 (33.9%) were different-sex and 39 (66.1%) were same-sex twin pairs. In conclusion, cohabitation in the uterus of twin fetuses of different sexes influenced their intrauterine growth.

Pair-living in the Absence of Obligate Biparental Care in a Lizard: Trading-off Sex and Food?

A pair-living social organisation can typically be explained by obligate biparental care. We investigated pair-living in the absence of biparental care in the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, which forms exceptionally strong pair bonds. We fitted 10 lizards, five male–female pairs, with Global Positioning System (GPS) recorders and continuously monitored social associations and separations between active pair partners, based on location records taken every 10 min over 3 mo. Males temporarily separated and reunited the pair more frequently than females, but females also contributed to the maintenance of the pair bond. These behavioural data were consistent with the hypothesis that females successfully coerce males into associations with one female. Lower frequencies of social association between pair partners once mating had finished support this interpretation. Males that are coerced into pair associations appear to experience higher costs of pair-living than females, because males initiated temporary separations of the pair more frequently than females. Males showed higher movement activity and remained active later each day. This sex bias in activity may be an important mechanism to mitigate the higher costs of pair-living for males. Costs for males might include within-pair competition for food as females appear more competitive. Our study provides detailed empirical data on a lizard pair bond and provides important insights into pair-living in the absence of biparental care.

Diversity of the Monstrilloida (Crustacea: Copepoda)

Monstrilloid copepods are protelean parasites of different groups of marine benthic invertebrates. Only their first naupliar, preadult, and adult phases are planktonic. Monstrilloids are currently represented by more than 115 nominal species contained in four genera. Its taxonomic knowledge has been hampered by nomenclatural and descriptive problems derived from their peculiar ontogeny and poor definitions of taxa. One of the most important difficulties is that of matching males to females. The only reliable methods to link the sexes of a species are the confirmation of particular apomorphies shared by both sexes, finding both sexes in the same host or as a pre-copulatory male-female pair in the plankton, or by the use of molecular markers. A general overview of the morphology of the group and its life cycle is provided herein. Recently, upgraded descriptive standards have been established and the relevance of redescribing taxa based on type and museum specimens has been demonstrated. The rate of species description per decade has had several peaks between 1840 and 2010: (1971–1980, 1991–2000, 2001–2010), each related to the activity of a few researchers. An analysis of the world distribution of published records of the Monstrilloida revealed that the Northeast Atlantic is the best studied region (45% of all records), followed by the Northwestern Atlantic (17%); the least surveyed areas include regions of the southern hemisphere (less than 3%). The Northeast Atlantic region harbors the highest number of known species (32 nominal species), followed by the Caribbean Sea/Gulf of Mexico (24), the Mediterranean/Black Sea (19), Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines region (17), Japanese waters (17), and the Brazil-Argentina area (16). Other than these generalized patterns, little can be concluded concerning the biogeography of the group. Many species records are doubtful or improbable, and purportedly cosmopolitan nominal species are being revealed as species complexes yet to be studied.

Same-sex pair-bonds are equivalent to male–female bonds in a life-long socially monogamous songbird

Same-sex sexual behaviors are well documented in both captive and wild animals. In monogamous species, these behaviors are often exclusive, each individual having only one same-sex partner. A bias in sex ratio has been proposed as a social context yielding same-sex pair-bonding, but this hypothesis has rarely been tested. Focusing on a life-long pair-bonding songbird, the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, we tested whether same-sex pairing results from a shortage of individuals of the opposite sex. By experimentally skewing the sex ratio towards members of one sex, we observed a greater proportion of same-sex pair-bonds of that sex. Moreover, we assessed whether the quality and stability of social interactions were equivalent in same-sex and male–female pairs. Male–male and female–female same-sex bonds display the same behavioral characteristics as male–female ones: they are intense, highly selective, and stable affinitive relationships involving the same behavioral displays already described in wild birds. Moreover, same-sex male bonds were sufficiently strong not to split up when individuals were given the opportunity to reproduce with females. Because the pair-bond in socially monogamous species represents a partnership that may give advantages for survival (e.g., resources defense, fighting against predators, etc.), we propose that same-sex pairing in the zebra finch may result from the pressure to find a social partner.

Social interactions associated with reproduction in the bushveld gerbil Gerbilliscus leucogaster

The study of social behaviour can give us important insights into the social and mating system of a species or population. We investigated male–female interactions in captive bushveld gerbils, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, to gain insight into the social behaviour and mating structure. We conducted two experiments. In experiment 1, we studied the interactions between two strangers for a week in a three-tank setup, which tested behavioural variation spatially and temporally. Although tolerance between strange males and females increased with time, it remained generally low throughout the experiment. Females appeared to be cautious of males initially, but they later became aggressive towards them. Males showed an increase in submissive behaviour over time. The ‘home’ cage did not appear to be defended by either sex. In experiment 2, we investigated the social interactions of male–female pairs during pregnancy and lactation. Aggression persisted throughout the study and amicable behaviour was low; females were much more aggressive than males. We did not detect changes in social behaviour with the progression of pregnancy and lactation. We suggest that pair bonding is unlikely and that promiscuity is the most probable mating system. Female aggression may be related to mate choice prior to mating and mate exclusion thereafter, while it may be a response to infanticide risk during pregnancy and lactation.

Multiple captures provide evidence of small mammal social behavior

Social behavior of small mammals living under natural conditions often is inferred from live-trapping data, particularly from incidents in which two or more individuals are captured together in a trap. We examined whether multiple-capture data from a long-term study of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were consistent with well-known species differences in social behavior (whereas prairie voles are highly social and display monogamy, meadow voles are less social and promiscuous). When possible, we also examined multiple captures of two nontarget species, northern short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) and western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis). Percent of total captures that were multiple captures and percent of total adult captures that were male–female captures were highest for prairie voles and lowest for meadow voles; values for harvest mice and shrews were in between those of the vole species, but more similar to values for meadow voles. Repeat captures of the same male–female pair occurred most commonly in prairie voles, and multiple captures of this species typically involved individuals from the same social group. Multiple captures of adults and juveniles were more common in prairie voles than meadow voles, except for captures of at least one adult male and at least one juvenile, which did not differ between the two vole species. Multiple capture data for prairie voles and meadow voles were largely consistent with established species differences in social behavior, suggesting that such data can provide an accurate indication of social and mating systems of small mammals.

The harmonic convergence of fathers predicts the mating success of sons in Aedes aegypti

During courtship males often communicate information about their fitness to females. The matching of harmonic components of flight tone in male-female pairs of flying mosquitoes, or harmonic convergence, was recently described. This behaviour occurs prior to mating and has been suggested to function in mate selection. We investigated the hypothesis that harmonic convergence is a component of mosquito courtship. A key prediction of this hypothesis is that harmonic convergence should provide information to potential mates about fitness benefits. We measured the effect of harmonic convergence behaviour on the direct and indirect benefits obtained by females. We found that the sons of pairs that converged at harmonic frequencies prior to mating had increased mating success and that these offspring were themselves more likely to converge prior to mating. These results suggest that males may be able to signal information about their genetic quality to females prior to mating and that this signal may be heritable. These findings are important for our understanding of mosquito behaviour and have applications in the control of mosquito-borne disease. This study also contributes to the study of male-female interactions and signal coevolution.

Promiscuous tendencies in the round-eared sengi: a male’s perspective

Although monogamy is interpreted as risk-adverse strategy by reducing intra-sexual conflicts, most pair-living males increase their reproductive success by engaging in extra-pair copulations. However, little is known about costs involved in such extra-pair attempts from the male’s perspective. We investigated promiscuous tendencies of paired Macroscelides proboscideus (round-eared elephant-shrew or round-eared sengi), a pair-living small mammal occurring in southern Africa. In particular, we measured potential costs of extra-pair attempts for the males. For this, we conducted laboratory experiments, involving interactions between neighbouring male–female pairs. Data collection included direct behavioural observations and establishing the morphological and physiological characteristics of males. Both sexes intruded into the neighbouring area, and initiated sexual behaviour with neighbours of the opposite sex. Males which displayed a higher marking frequency in the neighbouring area received more sexually motivated behaviour from neighbouring females. Resident males attacked intruding males. Aggression experienced by and marking behaviour of intruding males was positively correlated with body mass losses. Furthermore, glucocorticoid levels, determined from analyses of faeces and urine samples, correlated positively with body mass losses and marking behaviour of intruding males, indicating costs of intruding. We conclude that male as well as female round-eared sengis have promiscuous tendencies. Although interactions with neighbouring females may offer potential benefits for males in terms of enhanced reproductive success, males also seem to pay substantial costs, as indicated by body mass losses and elevated stress hormone levels.

Within‐group social bonds in white‐faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) display male–female pair preference

White-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) lack most of the behavioral and physical traits typical of primate monogamy [Fuentes, 1999]. In order to determine if social bonds in this species reflect patterns displayed by pair-bonded groups or larger multimale-multifemale groups, we draw on 17 months of data collected on wild white-faced sakis at Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname. We analyzed within-group social bonds for three habituated groups (one two-adult and two multiadult groups) by measuring grooming, proximity, and approach/leave patterns between adult and subadult group members. We found that both two-adult and multiadult groups showed significantly stronger social bonds between a single male-female dyad within each group (deemed "primary dyads"). In all three groups, primary dyads were composed of the oldest adult male and a breeding female. These pairs had significantly higher levels of grooming than other within-group dyads and were also in close proximity (<1 m) more often than nonprimary dyads. Grooming in primary dyads was nonreciprocal, and consistently biased toward female investment. Grooming patterns in nonprimary dyads varied, but were often more reciprocal. Grooming and proximity of the primary dyad also changed in relation to infant development. Our results suggest that while white-faced sakis do not show behavioral and physical traits typical of monogamy or pair-bonding, social bonds are strongest between a single male-female pair. Pitheciine social systems range from small group monogamy in Callicebus to large multimale-multifemale groups in Chiropotes and Cacajao. As the middle taxon in this platyrrhine radiation, behavioral strategies of white-faced sakis provide a model for how social bonds and affiliation could be influenced by and affect the evolution of larger group size in primates.

On the fundamentals of natural history and present threats to Red-wattled Lapwing in Kurukshetra environs

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus is a very common bird seen on the periphery of Kurukshetra-Thanesar, twin towns, in agriculture fields. Last 28 years of keen observations reveal the fast coming up threats to its populations. The current populations are a quarter only of the level that existed in 1980s. Most visible threat has been caused by HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority). It has virtually converted the peripheral agriculture fields in Kurukshetra into so called HUDA-Sectors -new Human dwelling places with ultra modern civic amenities with vast open space with no protection or peace for lapwing populations- diminishing its populations to the present deplorable position. It has been observed to segregate into very strong male-female pairs during breeding season which embarks upon with respect to the first or second week of April, culminating in nest building and laying of eggs in the 4 th week of April through May and 4 th week of June. Juveniles were seen first in May last week. A total of 25 nests of the bird were surveyed in the breeding season during April to July 2010. The clutch size ranged from 3-4. Out of 25 nests surveyed, 13 nests were having 4 eggs each and 11 nests 3 eggs as in 2010. Also, only one nest was found with two eggs. Further, in all 87 eggs were laid in 25 nests, out of which 53 eggs hatched successfully. The eggs were mosaic colored with pied patterns- a measure of “Camouflaging” to evade attack of predators including Common Pariah Kite Milvus migrans, House Crow Corvus splendens, Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis and Stray dogs. Eggs on ground always confronted a threat from pedestrians.

Spatial and temporal interactions of sympatric mountain lions in Arizona

Spatial and temporal interactions among individual members of populations can have direct applications to habitat management of mountain lions (Puma concolor). Our objectives were to evaluate home range overlap and spatial/temporal use of overlap zones (OZ) of mountain lions in Arizona. We incorporated spatial data with genetic analyses to assess relatedness between mountain lions with overlapping home ranges. We recorded the space use patterns of 29 radio-collared mountain lions in Arizona from August 2005 to August 2008. We genotyped 28 mountain lions and estimated the degree of relatedness among individuals. For 26 pairs of temporally overlapping mountain lions, 18 overlapped spatially and temporally and eight had corresponding genetic information. Home range overlap ranged from 1.18% to 46.38% ( $$ \overline x = {\text{24}}.{\text{43}} $$ , SE = 2.96). Male–male pairs were located within 1 km of each other on average, 0.04% of the time, whereas male–female pairs on average were 3.0%. Two male–male pairs exhibited symmetrical spatial avoidance and two symmetrical spatial attractions to the OZ. We observed simultaneous temporal attraction in three male–male pairs and four male–female pairs. Individuals from Tucson were slightly related to one another within the population (n = 13, mean R = 0.0373 ± 0.0151) whereas lions from Payson (n = 6, mean R = −0.0079 ± 0.0356) and Prescott (n = 9, mean R = −0.0242 ± 0.0452) were not as related. Overall, males were less related to other males (n = 20, mean R = −0.0495 ± 0.0161) than females were related to other females (n = 8, mean R = 0.0015 ± 0.0839). Genetic distance was positively correlated with geographic distance (r 2 = 0.22, P = 0.001). Spatial requirements and interactions influence social behavior and can play a role in determining population density.

Bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of PBDE 47 in the marine medaka ( Oryzias melastigma) following dietary exposure

The bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 47) were investigated in the marine medaka ( Oryzias melastigma) following dietary exposure, in which PBDE 47 was bioencapsulated into brine shrimp ( Artemia sp.) and fed daily to male-female pairs of medaka. In the accumulation experiment, each 2-month-old (pre-breeding) medaka were provided with dietary PBDE 47 at 1.3 ± 0.2 μg/day for 21 days. Growth-corrected concentrations of PBDE 47 in the medaka increased over the 21 days of exposure and there were no significant differences between males and females at any of the sampling times. Final concentrations were similar for males and females after 21 days (230 ± 30 and 250 ± 30 μg g −1 wet weight, respectively), accounting for 84–100% of the PBDE 47 provided in the diet. In the maternal transfer experiment, 3-month-old (breeding) medaka were provided with dietary PBDE 47 at 1.2 ± 0.2 μg/day for 18 days, and reached body concentrations of 76 ± 3 (males) and 61 ± 6 (females) μg g −1 wet weight. Female growth-corrected PBDE 47 concentrations were significantly lower than males by day 12 ( P < 0.05), and egg PBDE 47 concentrations were up to 25 ng/egg by day 18. Our results showed that maternal transfer is an important offloading mechanism for female fish. The fact that lipid normalized egg:female PBDE ratios did not significantly deviate from 1 further indicated that the maternal transfer of PBDE 47 is associated with lipid mobilization during egg production.

Facilis hic futuit : Graffiti and Masculinity in Pompeii's 'Purpose-Built' Brothel

Facilis hic futuit: Graffiti and Masculinity in Pompeii's 'Purpose-Built' Brothel Sarah Levin-Richardson (bio) Phoebus / bonus futor (Phoebus is a good fukr, CIL IV 2248, Add. 215); Froto plane / lingit cun/num (Froto openly licks cunt, CIL IV 2257); Murtis · felatris (Murtis is a blow-job babe, CIL IV 2292). Long overlooked by scholarship as obscene recordings of sexual encounters, the 135 graffiti of the 'purpose-built' brothel at Pompeii (VII 12 18-20; CIL IV 2173-96 and 3101a; Add. 215-6 and Add. 465) form a rich corpus that illuminates daily interactions among clients and prostitutes in the Roman world. 1 In this paper, I demonstrate through these graffiti the multiple ways in which male clients, individually and collectively, negotiated male sexuality. Specifically, I analyze how male clients both created a hierarchy among themselves and solidified communal, normative masculinity in opposition to nonnormative males and marginalized females. I. Introduction In the past fifteen years, the graffiti of the 'purpose-built' brothel (hereafter referred to simply as the brothel) have entered the scholarly arena, usually as part of works devoted to surveying or analyzing erotic graffiti at Pompeii. For example, some of the brothel's sexual graffiti were treated by Antonio Varone's Erotica pompeiana: Iscrizioni d'amore sui muri di Pompei (1994; translated into English in 2002 as Erotica pompeiana: Love Inscriptions on theWalls of Pompeii). Varone surveys a wide range of erotic and love graffiti from all over Pompeii, grouping them into motifs like "Preghiere d'amore" and "L'arma d'amore." Through this typology, Varone draws out common themes in a diverse body of material. Francesco Paolo Maulucci Vivolo's Pompei: I graffiti d'amore (1995) presents samples of erotic graffiti from Pompeii, including some from the brothel, evoking how prolific this type of graffiti was. Taking a more analytic approach, Matthew Panciera's dissertation, "Sexual Practice and Invective in Martial and Pompeian Inscriptions" (2001), compares the different meanings and implications of sexual practices in the corpus of Martial's epigrams and Pompeii's graffiti. [End Page 59] These scholars have shed light on various features of erotic graffiti at Pompeii, but do not address how these graffiti may have worked in each specific locale or in concert with nonerotic graffiti. Varone's article, "Nella Pompei a luci rosse: Castrensis e l'organizzazione della prostituzione e dei suoi spazi" (2005), however, adds a new perspective to the study of the brothel's graffiti. Varone analyzes the status and sexual practices of the individuals in the brothel through close reading of its graffiti, demonstrating the potential gains of a contextual or locus-specific approach. 2 In this article, I follow Varone in exploring the brothel's graffiti together as a corpus, but ask different questions of the material. Specifically, I seek to illuminate the underlying structure of the corpus's rhetoric. The graffiti, I argue, are more than just records of sexual liaisons or advertisements of the services of prostitutes; they represent an interactive discourse concerning masculinity. Clients and prostitutes could and did add their thoughts to the corpus over time, which encouraged multiple viewings. In addition, even illiterate viewers could be exposed to the graffiti through someone else's recitation. 3 It may not be surprising that boasts and defamation are constituent elements of this dialogue; but as I will show, the ways in which boasts and defamation are deployed and against whom, and the implications this has for a rhetoric of masculinity, reveal a discourse far different from the intra-elite masculine invective seen in the poetry of Catullus and Martial. II. Contextualizing the Brothel and its Graffiti At the intersection of the north-south Vicolo del Lupanare and the east-west Vicolo del Balcone Pensile, located to the east of Pompeii's forum, lies a modest, two-story structure. 4 The bottom floor contains five small rooms, each with a masonry bed, opening off a central hallway. Erotic frescoes, most showing a male-female pair engaged in penile-vaginal intercourse, line the register above the doorways in the hallway. 5 The graffiti, on the other hand, are found mostly (88%) within the small cubicula. The terminus post quem of both the graffiti...

Clinical phenotypes of a juvenile sibling pair carrying the fragile X premutation

Individuals with alleles containing 55-200 CGG repeats in the fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene are premutation carriers. The premutation allele has been shown to lead to a number of types of clinical involvement, including shyness, anxiety, social deficits, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and executive function deficits. Some of these problems could be due to mild deficits of the fragile X protein (FMRP) and a possible developmental effect of the elevated FMR1 mRNA observed in carriers. In addition, two abnormal phenotypes specific to the premutation have been described. Primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI), defined by cessation of menses prior to age 40, occurs in 20% of females with the premutation. The other phenotype, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), affects some older adult premutation carriers. Premutation females typically have one expanded allele (≥55 CGG repeats) and one normal allele (≤54 CGG repeats). This study describes the cognitive, behavioral, and molecular profile of a female with two alleles in the premutation range (60 and 67 CGG repeats) in comparison to her brother with a similar premutation size (65 CGG repeats). Both exhibited high IQ scores, anxiety, and some physical features associated with fragile X syndrome. This comparison allows us to examine the effect of the premutation in this male-female pair while controlling for environmental and background genetic factors.

Burrow sharing in the desert-adapted torch-tail spiny rat,Trinomys yonenagae

Abstract Among fossorial rodents burrow sharing is an important behavioral attribute that provides the foundation for multiple aspects of social structure. Within the family Echimyidae the torch-tail spiny rat (Trinomys yonenagae) is distinguished from closely related taxa by its tendency to live in burrows in desert habitats. Preliminary field studies have suggested that burrow systems of this species are shared by multiple adults. To test this hypothesis we used livetrapping and radiotelemetry to quantify patterns of burrow use in a population of torch-tail spiny rats located near Ibiraba, Bahia State, Brazil. Examination of our data indicates that 76.2% of 67 burrow systems monitored were occupied by >1 adult, including same-sex pairs, male–female pairs, and multiple adults of both sexes. Spatial overlap among adults captured in the same cluster of burrow entrances was extensive (72.0% ± 27.0% based on 95% minimum convex polygons), with 66.7% of animals resident in the same burrow system using the same...

Factors affecting aggression in a captive flock of Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis)

The influence of pair bond status, age and sex on aggression rates in a flock of 84 captive Chilean flamingos at Zoo Atlanta was examined. Analysis showed no difference between aggression rates of male and female flamingos, but adult flamingos had higher rates of aggression than juveniles. There were also significant differences in aggression depending on pair bond status (single, same-sex pair, male-female pair or group). Bonded birds were significantly more aggressive than single birds, which is consistent with the concept that unpaired birds are not breeding and do not need to protect pair bonds or eggs. Birds in typical pair bonds (male-female) and atypical pair bonds (same-sex pairs or groups) exhibited similar rates of aggression. These results contribute to the existing body of research on aggression in captive flamingos.