Associated and Dissociated Reproductive Patterns

Dissociated reproductive pattern: Ex. red-sided garter snake

• courtship and copulatory behaviors are not dependent on a rise in gonadal steroids, nor on the presence of high levels of gonadal steroids

  • sex behavior and gonadal activity are dissociated
  • gonadal steroids are thought to �prime� the nervous system to respond to other cues that activate mating behavior

Associated reproductive pattern: Ex. parthenogenetic whiptail lizard

• increases in estrogen (occur with follicular development) activate the display of female-like pseudosexual behavior and stimulate ovulation

• subsequent increases in progesterone activate the display of male-like pseudosexual behavior

  • sex behavior and gonadal activity are associated
  • gonadal steroids are thought to �activate� the nervous system to activate behavior

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