Socioendocrinology of Primate Reproduction

A new field of study devoted to understanding the interactions between hormones and behaviour in animals residing in social groups is examined here.

This important work explores reproductive patterns in a number of primates and offers information that links reproductive endocrinology with evolutionary biology.

Informative chapters review relevant literature and present new findings on the socioendocrinology of prosimians, marmosets, tamarins, macaques, vervets, apes and human beings.

The book examines such major themes as: reproductive maturation and the timing of menarche, menstrual cycle synchrony and suppression, intersexual influences on reproductive endocrinology, lactational suppression of ovulation and status-related effects of neuroendocrine function.