Sex, Stress and Reproductive Success

Any events, whether real or perceived, that challenge the survival of living organisms are classified as stressors. These stressors may include, for example, lack of food, increased population pressure, climatic events or in the case of humans, loss of a loved one, lack of financial security or uncertainty in the future. Although most physiological systems are affected by stress, the systems that regulate reproductive physiology and behaviour are the most sensitive. All multicellular organisms show a stress-related effect on reproduction, with the more complex organisms, such as mammals, displaying the most complex effects. Sex, Stress and Reproductive Success provides an accessible introduction to how mechanisms of reproduction and stress-related physiology interact to allow organisms to cope and survive in hostile environments. Primarily aimed at second and third year undergraduate students from a range of disciplines including: zoology, animal science, neuroscience, physiology and psychology, this engaging book provides a comparative analysis of the mechanisms by which stress regulates reproduction, exploring the evolution of stress perceiving systems from the simplest organisms to humans. It explores stressors that occur at all levels of organization and examines current theories that explain human and animal reproductive behaviour and physiology under adverse conditions. Features: A concise, engaging introduction to the mechanisms of stress-regulated reproduction. Adopts a novel, integrated, genes-to-environment approach with a strong evolutionary component. Comparative analysis with a focus on vertebrates. Comprehensive coverage includes emergent issues associated with human society, wildlife and captive animal populations and environmental issues.