Britta Rohr, Diploma student, Free University of Berlin, Germany - 2007 completed
So far, relatively little is known about the strategic significance of female reproductive behaviour. Furthermore, the functional significance of female sexual swellings and promiscuity remains still unknown. Both female traits may serve as a female counter-strategy against male infanticide by confusing paternity. The present study aims at characterising and exploring the sexual behaviour and sexual swellings of adult females during ovarian cycles in order to clarify to what extent females of this species are able to pursue their own reproductive strategies and what these strategies are. For this, we combine behavioural observations with taking digital photographs from female sexaul swellings.