Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword by Robert L. Trivers
- Preface
- PART I INTRODUCTION
- PART II SEXUAL SIGNALS: SUBSTRATES AND FUNCTION
- PART III SEXUAL SELECTION IN ACTION
- 7 Sexual selection, behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases
- 8 Mating conflict in primates: infanticide, sexual harassment and female sexuality
- 9 Post-copulatory sexual selection in birds and primates
- PART IV DEVELOPMENT AND CONSEQUENCES
- Index
- References
7 - Sexual selection, behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword by Robert L. Trivers
- Preface
- PART I INTRODUCTION
- PART II SEXUAL SIGNALS: SUBSTRATES AND FUNCTION
- PART III SEXUAL SELECTION IN ACTION
- 7 Sexual selection, behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases
- 8 Mating conflict in primates: infanticide, sexual harassment and female sexuality
- 9 Post-copulatory sexual selection in birds and primates
- PART IV DEVELOPMENT AND CONSEQUENCES
- Index
- References
Summary
INTRODUCTION
Factors that alter the contact structure of individuals within populations will influence the spread of parasites that are transmitted by direct contact (Anderson & May, 1991; Blower & McLean, 1991). Few cases illustrate this fundamental principle of epidemiology better than sexual selection and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sexual selection involves variation in mating success mediated by male–male competition or female choice. By changing the structure of mating contacts within a population, sexual selection influences the spread of sexually transmitted infections. In particular, those individuals with the greatest mating success are at highest risk of contracting STDs, and will also contribute disproportionately to STD spread and persistence (Graves & Duvall, 1995; Thrall et al., 2000). Moreover, promiscuity associated with sperm competition is predicted to increase both the spread and virulence of STDs (Thrall et al., 1997). Therefore STDs may represent a substantial cost of sexual selection and non-monogamous mating behaviour (Thrall et al., 2000).
Sexually transmitted diseases have been virtually ignored in studies of animal mating systems (Smith & Dobson, 1992; Lockhart et al., 1996), but it is now possible to link epidemiological theory on STDs to patterns of infection in wild populations. In this chapter, we explore the consequences of sexual selection, for the spread of STDs in primates. We also examine behavioural defences to avoid infection, specifically addressing interactions between parasite fitness and host reproductive success.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Sexual Selection in PrimatesNew and Comparative Perspectives, pp. 117 - 130Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004
References
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