Reproductive Ecology of Males in Turkana, Kenya

这项建议的主要目的是调查环境对肯尼亚图尔卡纳人男性生殖功能的影响。调查人员对图尔卡纳妇女的生殖生态进行了示范研究，拟议的研究将扩大他们的研究。图尔卡纳人分为定居群体和游牧群体，他们在饮食和活动模式上有所不同。此外，食物供应的强烈季节性也导致了饮食的变化。研究人员将利用血液和尿液样本来获得睾酮和促性腺激素以及其他生理功能和身体成分指标的概况。从以往的研究中，我们知道生态因素对女性生殖生物学有很强的影响。目前的研究将是首次探索生态学在男性生殖功能中的作用。

The primary objective of this proposal is to investigate environmental influences on male reproductive functioning among the Turkana of Kenya. The investigators have conducted exemplary research on the reproductive ecology of Turkana women and the proposed research will extend their studies. The Turkana are divided into settled and nomadic groups which differ in diet and activity patterns. Additionally, strong seasonality in food supply leads to dietary variation as well. The investigators will utilize blood and urine samples to obtain profiles of testosterone and gonadotropins as well as other indicators of physiological functioning and body composition. From prior studies it is known that ecological factors strongly affect female reproductive biology. The current study will be one of the first to explore the role of ecology in male reproductive function.