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Reproductive Isolation, Behavioral Genetics, and Functions of Sexual Behavior in Rodents

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Reproductive Behavior and Evolution

Part of the book series: Evolution, Development, and Organization of Behavior ((EDOB,volume 1))

Abstract

This chapter consists of several interrelated parts. First, Mayr’s classification scheme for reproductive isolating mechanisms is reviewed. For several of these mechanisms, behavior is known to play an important role, while for others the importance of behavioral differences has not been demonstrated. Much of the remainder of the chapter is concerned with the possibility that behavior, specifically the copula-tory act itself, might function in these latter kinds of reproductive isolation. Since the examples offered deal with rodent sexual behavior, the second section of the chapter examines some species differences in sexual responses within that order.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 01267, USA

    Thomas E. McGill

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  1. Thomas E. McGill
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    Jay S. Rosenblatt  & B. R. Komisaruk  & 

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© 1977 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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McGill, T.E. (1977). Reproductive Isolation, Behavioral Genetics, and Functions of Sexual Behavior in Rodents. In: Rosenblatt, J.S., Komisaruk, B.R. (eds) Reproductive Behavior and Evolution. Evolution, Development, and Organization of Behavior, vol 1. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2625-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2625-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2627-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2625-0

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