Data for: Fur color change and hormonal development in captive Nomascus females
Description
Gibbons of the genus Nomascus exhibit strong sexual dichromatism in fur color. Change of fur color in sub-adult wild Nomascus females is associated with the onset of puberty and the time of their dispersing. The fact about the more observed reproductive suppression in monogamous species is known, particularly in females. The variability in color change may be therefore influenced by social factors. In this study, we determined whether captive Nomascus females establish reproductive maturity prior to dispersing with an association to their fur color. We collected 287 fecal extracts to analyze pregnandiol -3- glucuronide and 17β estradiol profiles of 4 sub-adult females (Nomascus leucogenys and Nomascus gabriellae) and 183 samples from their mothers, using enzyme immunoassays. The sub-adult females were monitored aging from 4 years old. Their hormone profiles showed the onset of ovulatory cycling between ages of 4.6-5.8 years. Based on the information about the estrogen influence to the secondary sex characteristic (color of female) the positive link between estrogen concentration and age of the sub-adult females was found. However, the amount of the estrogen can apparently determinate the presence of the mother. If the mother was presented, the level of estrogen was higher than if the mother was missing. Our findings suggest that the probability to the beige color of the sub-adult females increased with increased age and if they were without mother. Due to a small number of females in this study, we can only assume a certain degree of maternal influence to the fur color change of their daughters.