Dissertation Research: The Effects of Socio-Ecological Variables on the Timetable of Reproductive Maturation in Captive Female Baboons

已知有许多因素会影响包括人类在内的雌性灵长类动物的生殖成熟时间。营养状况是一个有充分记录的变量，有证据表明社会压力也起着作用。本研究旨在解开社会生态变量（营养和社会因素）在圈养青春期雌性狒狒（Papio hamadryas anubis）生殖成熟时间表上的作用。更具体地说，本研究的目标是确定营养因素（体重、骨骼生长、食物摄入）和社会因素（相对优势等级、受到的攻击量）如何影响(a)月经初潮/开始周期的时间，(b)排卵的概率，(c)怀孕的概率，以及(d)成功生育的概率。由于青春期在非人类灵长类动物和人类中都是一个显著的发育阶段，本研究将为这一过渡阶段的起源和功能提供见解。此外，这项研究将提供证据，说明营养状况和社会压力在发展和维持正常和有能力的生殖功能，包括可靠的排卵和个别妇女开始和成功怀孕的能力方面所起的作用。

A number of factors are known to affect the timing of reproductive maturation in female primates, including humans. Nutritional status is a well documented variable and there is some evidence that social stress also plays a role. This study aims to disentangle the role of socio-ecological variables (both nutritional and social factors) on the timetable of reproductive maturation in captive adolescent female baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis). More specifically, it is the goal of this study to determine how nutritional factors (body weight, skeletal growth, food intake) and social factors (relative dominance rank, amount of aggression received) affect (a) the timing of menarche/commencement of cycling, (b) the probability of ovulation, (c) the probability of becoming pregnant, and (d) the probability of successful first birth. With adolescence existing as a marked developmental stage of significant duration in both non-human primates and humans, this study will provide insights into the origins and functions of this transitional stage of development. In addition, this study will provide evidence as to the roles nutritional status and social stress play in the development and maintenance of regular and competent reproductive functioning, including reliable ovulation and the abilities of individual females to initiate and carry out successful pregnancies.