SEXUAL SELECTION FOR SPATIAL-LEARNING ABILITY
SEXUAL SELECTION FOR SPATIAL-LEARNING ABILITY
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DOI：
10.1016/0003-3472(89)90121-8
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发表时间：
1989-02-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
FITZGERALD, RW
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
GAULIN, SJC;FITZGERALD, RW
空间学习的性别差异一直被认为是哺乳动物普遍存在的，但其适应意义却被忽视。空间学习技能的假设，以nagivational需求成比例的演变，它是预测，性别差异的空间能力将演变只有在物种的范围扩大有助于差异的男性和女性的生殖成功。这种预测进行了测试，通过实地研究的测距行为和实验室研究的空间能力，在两个同类啮齿类动物的交配系统不同。无线电遥测研究表明，在一夫多妻的物种（草地田鼠，Microtus pennaculicus）中，雄性只有在繁殖季节和达到完全生殖状态时才扩大其活动范围。雌性动物没有任何反应。这表明范围扩张是雄性的繁殖策略。与此相反，一夫一妻制的同类（草原田鼠，M。ochrogaster）在范围上没有性别差异，无论生殖状态如何。这可能反映了一夫一妻制的男性和女性相对无法从增加与异性成员的接触中获益。当随后测试的一系列的7个对称的迷宫，从实地研究的主题表现出预测的性别物种模式的空间能力：只有草甸田鼠表现出一致的男性优势，这些空间任务。
Sex differences in spatial learning have been thought to be universal among mammals, but their adaptive significance has been neglected. Spatial-learning skills are hypothesized to evolve in proportion to nagivational demands, and it is predicted that sex differences in spatial ability will evolve only in species where range expansion contributes differentially to the reproductive success of males and females. This prediction was tested via field studies of ranging behaviour and laboratory studies of spatial ability in two congeneric rodent species whose mating systems differ. Radiotelemetric studies showed that, in a polygynous species (meadows voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus), males expanded their ranges only during the breeding season and only when they attained full reproductive status. Females showed neither response. This suggests that range expansion was a male reproductive tactic. In contrast, a monogamous congener (prairie voles, M. ochrogaster) showed no sex differences in ranging, regardless of reproductive status. This probably reflects the relative inability of monogamous males and females to benefit from increased exposure to members of the opposite sex. When subsequently tested in a series of seven symmetrical mazes, subjects from the field studies exhibited the predicted sex-by-species patterns of spatial ability: only meadow voles showed consistent male superiority on these spatial tasks.