Maternal glucocorticoids critically rise during pregnancy reaching up to a 20-fold increase of
mid-pregnancy concentrations. Concurrently, another steroid hormone, progesterone …

Although cooperation represents a long-standing evolutionary puzzle, field studies on social
carnivores have contributed greatly to our understanding of the selective forces favoring …

Introduction Mammalian reproductive and somatic development is regulated by steroid
hormones, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Based largely on …

The diversity of competing frameworks for explaining the evolution of non-maternal care in
mammals (Part I, this issue) reflects the vast range of behaviors and associated outcomes …

In the majority of mammals, gestation length is relatively consistent and seldom varies by
more than 3%. In a few species, females can adjust gestation length by delaying the …

In the class Mammalia, most young are cared for exclusively by their mothers. In species
where mothers receive help, however, non-maternal caregivers may play a crucial role in …

Female intrasexual competition can be intense in cooperatively breeding species, with some
dominant breeders (matriarchs) limiting reproduction in subordinates via aggression …

Female–female reproductive suppression is evident in an array of mammals, including
rodents, primates, and carnivores. By suppressing others, breeding females can benefit by …

In oviparous vertebrates, maternal androgens can alter offspring immune function,
particularly early in development, but the potential for negative health effects of maternal …

Obtaining endocrinological profiles using non-invasive methodologies by the measurement
of hormone fecal metabolites is a widely used method to monitor ovarian activity and …