睾酮对启动和维持雄性动物的性行为及保持雄性第二性征有重要作用,高浓度的睾酮还可促进雄性的攻击性。但是长时期维持高的睾酮水平还会使雄性付出很高的能量代价,所以雄性不会长时期地维持高的睾酮水平。本研究对黄山短尾猴鱼鳞坑YA2群雄性个体交配期(2006年9月-12月)与产仔期(2007年1月-4月)攻击行为进行研究,同时收集研究个体的新鲜粪便,并用放射免疫分析法测定粪便睾酮水平,以探讨雄性黄山短尾猴不同时期睾酮水平差异及睾酮水平与攻击行为的关系。结果表明,成年雄性黄山短尾猴攻击行为发生频次在交配期显著高于非交配期;成年雄性粪便睾酮水平在交配期显著高于非交配期;交配期成年雄性的粪便睾酮水平与攻击行为发生频次有较显著的正相关关系,而在非交配期无显著相关;低顺位个体在交配期和非交配期都没有观察到攻击行为。本研究的结果支持了“繁殖竞争假说”。
Testosterone affects of the development of masculine sexual behavior, secondary sexual characteristics, and aggressive behavior. However, maintaining high levels of testosterone for long periods can be physiologically costly for males. During the mating season (Sep. 2006- Dec. 2006) and non-mating season (Jan. 2007 - Apr. 2007), we recorded the aggressive behavior of adult male Tibetan macaques Macaca thibitana in YA2 troop at Mt. Huangshan. We also collected fecal samples and used radioimmunoassay to measure fecal testosterone. Results indicated that adult males showed higher fecal testosterone levels during the mating season. Adult males also showed higher rates of aggression during the mating vs the non-mating season. Fecal testosterone levels were positively correlated with aggressive behavior, only during the mating season. The lowest ranking male did not exhibit any aggressive behavior during the mating and non-mating seasons. Our results are consistent with the Challenge hypothesis which proposes that persistent differences in circulating testosterone among males relate to reproductive competition and the need to defend access to females [Acta Zoologiea Siniea 54 (3): 393 -398, 2008].