Description: Preface 1. Mammals: Strategies and Perspectives Strategies Perspectives 2. Environmental Regulation: Some General Principles Environmental Regulation of Fertility Onset Genes and Environmental Factors Sex Differences Population Differences Natural Selection versus Domestication Conclusions 3. Seasonal Strategies: Ultimate Factors The Interaction of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Variation in One Locale Lattitude and Seasonality The Tropics A Purely Energetic Perspective: Small Mammals Application of an Energetic Perspectives to Larger Mammals Nutrients and Seasonality Other Ultimate Factors Conclusions 4. Food as a Proximate Factor: Neuroendocrine Pathways The Male's Reproductive Effort The Effect of Food Shortage on Male Reproduction The Estrous Cycle Food Shortage and the Estrous Cycle Pregnancy and Lactation Food Shortage, Pregnancy and Lactation Energy versus Nutrients Food Availability as a Proximate Regulator in Wild Populations Conclusions 5. Ambient Temperature as a Proximate Factor Temperature, Reproduction, and Genetic Adaptation The Concept of Stress Endocrine Pathways: A Speculative Scheme Conclusions 6. The Predictor Option The Syrian Hamster The Sheep Other Species Studied under Controlled Conditions Natural Selection and Photoperiodic Cuing Latitude and Photoperiodic Cuing Other Predictors Conclusion 7. Regulation by Social Cues Social Status, Reproductive Success, and Endocrine Stress The Priming Pheromone System of the House Mouse Priming Phenomena in Other Mammals The Adaptive Significance of Priming Phenomena Conclusions 8. The Interaction of Cues and Processes Interacting Cues and Endocrine Responses Responses in Relation to Phase of Life and Reproductive Cycle Responses in Relation to Survival Mechanisms Conclusions 9. A Taxonomic Perspective Order Marsupialia Order Insectivora Order Lagomorpha Order Rodentia Order Carnivora Order Pinnipedia Order Chiroptera Order Primates Order Cetacea Order Artiodactyla Conclusions 10. Some Avenues for Future Research References Index

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