Rainfall linked to skewed sex ratios in African buffalo
Friday, April 23, 2010 - 00:30
in Psychology & Sociology
An increased proportion of male African buffalo are born during the rainy season. Researchers collected data from over 200 calves and 3,000 fetuses, finding that rain likely exerts this effect by interaction with so-called sex ratio genes, which cause differences in number, quality or function of X- and Y-bearing sperm.