Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

Living Edition
| Editors: Todd K. Shackelford, Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Reproductive Timing

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3065-1
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Synonyms

Continuous breeding; Cyclical breeding; Induced ovulation; Seasonal breeding; Sexual timing

Definition

For conception to occur, both temporal and spatial proximity are required for the release of male and female gametes.

Introduction

Sex alone will not suffice when it comes to reproduction. Among most sexually reproducing species, insemination (the deposit of male gametes) must be proximate to ovulation in both time and space in order for conception to occur. Because sperm viability is short-lived in humans (Gallup et al. 2009), insemination and ovulation must be tightly coupled in time; certainly no more than +/−24 h and probably closer to +/−12 h. While sperm may be capable of staying alive in the female reproductive tract for longer periods of time, once activation occurs with the introduction of sperm into the vagina, they rapidly lose the ability to achieve capacitation (a sudden increase in vigorous activity when sperm encounter an egg in the fallopian tubes that is...

Keywords

Menstrual Cycle Seasonal Breeding Spatial Proximity Male Gamete Female Gamete 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.State University of New York at AlbanyAlbanyUSA
  2. 2.University of WaterlooWaterlooCanada