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Female birds boost up their eggs when hearing sexy song

Researchers found that female domesticated canaries varied the size of their eggs in response to the attractiveness of the male's song. The study highlights the importance of behavioral stimuli for reproductive physiology. In this experiment, attractive songs led to larger eggs, but no difference was observed in brood sex ratio.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEthology·DateJun 7, 2006
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Mother birds increase progesterone to hatch females

Researchers at Cornell University found that higher-than-normal progesterone levels in female chickens during the first meiosis significantly produce more females. The study suggests that female birds manipulate sex ratios to adapt to their environment and ensure the next generation has enough females to care for.

SourceCornell University·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 17, 2005

One fig, one wasp? Not always!

A new study found that many fig wasp species are cryptic, meaning they are genetically identical but belong to different host fig species. This challenges current ideas about the stability and evolution of mutualisms, strengthening other critical parts of modern evolutionary theory.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 25, 2003
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Italian research reveals a new twist in the battle of the sexes

Researchers from Italy studied over 14,000 births and found a significant disparity in sex ratios between optimal and sub-optimal reproductive conditions. The study suggests that nature tries to compensate for the vulnerability of male babies by favoring them in favorable months.

SourceEuropean Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology·JournalHuman Reproduction·DateMar 26, 2003

Parental smoking around time of conception linked to reduction in male births

A recent study has found that parental smoking around the time of conception is associated with a reduction in male births. The research suggests that exposure to cigarette smoke may affect sperm cells carrying the Y-chromosome, leading to lower male to female sex ratios. Smoking was found to impact sex ratios even when only the mother...

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 18, 2002

Fire ant queens and workers negotiate ‘truce' on colony sex ratio

Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that fire ant queens can alter the sex ratio of their colonies by limiting female eggs laid. This finding suggests a negotiated middle ground between queens and workers, who have competing interests in raising new colony members.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience·DateAug 16, 2001