BEHAVIORS NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL REPRODUCTION IN HUMANS

I really don't know why but recently I've been placing so much attention on reproduction. Incase you want to know how you can be man enough or woman enough, then you should probably check out those links later. Personally I can assure you that it's definitely worth the time. But for this particular article, we'll be considering a vital concept in reproduction that is mostly overlooked and sometimes not regarded as important. As a matter of fact, it has to do with the approaches that humans must adopt for a successful reproduction. Now, out of curiosity I'm certain someone is already thinking if one's behavior can inhibit reproduction. Well, we'll get answer(s) to this question and many more as we take this ride together. You should probably fasten your seat belt because this promises to be so intriguing and at the same time enlightening.

Lets start with the basis...

From our High School knowledge of biology, we were told that an important aspect of sexual reproduction is the development of behaviors that will ensure fertilization. Now, take note of the word 'fertilization'. In order for a layman to understand, I'd love to pinpoint that all we're trying to say is that there are things individuals must do or have before the fusion of the male and female gametes can produce anything tangible.

Actually, the truth is that, in motile animals such as man, the sexual partners directly approach each other and mate. However, like any other animal, reproduction in humans doesn't just start and end with mating alone; there are other factors known as the reproductive behaviors that must be present too. First on the list is the maturity of individuals involved in the sexual act. As funny as this may sound, you'll agree with me that in the concept of reproduction, nobody can run faster than his or her shadow. If the male and female have not hit puberty (sexually mature); mating in this kind of case is only a waste of time and energy. The reason is this, like we discussed in our previous articles, mature gametes (Sperm and ovum) responsible for fertilization are formed and released only at puberty. That notwithstanding, even if fertilization should occur immediately after puberty, the female reproductive system might not be capable of giving birth since the organs are not yet matured enough.

Furthermore, according to experts, the sexual activity in males must correspond with the estrous or sexual cycles in females before reproduction can occur. Well, in a more simple term we can say that even if the male and female humans are very mature, if mating happens when the female gamete (ovum) is not released by the ovary, a new offspring can never be produced. Hence, it's worthy of note that aside from individuals being mature enough and also releasing mature gametes, timing should as well be seen as an important criterion for a successful reproduction,

The role of communication in reproduction

It might sound a little kooky but in actuality, the importance of communication can never be overemphasized. For instance, animals or individuals can't just mate like that without the enticing role of communication being brought to bare. As a matter of fact, from numerous scientific research studies, mating in all vertebrates is believed to be dependent on courtship. And based on Merriam Webster dictionary definition, 'courtship is the period of time when animal behaviors lead to sexual activity'.

It doesn't end there; researchers went ahead to stress that during courtship, animals use a great variety of communication signals (visual, auditory, and smell) which happened to be essential for reproduction. Now, from what we've discussed so far, it might interest you to know that what advertises the presence of sexually receptive individuals is the communication signals mentioned earlier on. From the display or what's being said by an individual, the other individual will definitely know that the idea of mating and bringing forth new species is accepted or welcomed. Actually, communication goes further than just advertising presence of sexually receptive individuals; it basically indicates sexual interest and not aggression. For example, a typical situation that showcases absence of communication is rape and the truth is that it doesn't always end up in a successful reproduction. That's why, in some parts of the world (unlike mine) where abortion is legalized, even if fertilization took place, such pregnancy will be terminated immediately.

Marriage: Territoriality in disguise

One of the unique functions of reproductive communication is its ability to pair compatible male and female together. Well, like we can see in today's world, most times the pairing may be very brief and the essence is just for mating only. Funnily enough, in cases of brief pairing, individuals rarely allow reproduction to happen. That's why you hear them term it as a mistake. On the other hand, aside from brief pairing, the other pairing last for a lifetime. Now, should we call this marriage?. The choice is yours to make.

Actually, where I'm from, there's this popular saying that "an admirer of one's wife is indebted to death". Sincerely speaking, I never really understood this quote until after I started writing this article. Indeed the striking concept of a lifetime pairing is that the individuals involved always mark and defend the relationship against intruders of the same species. In biological science, this is known as territoriality. You may be curious to know if it's only humans that exhibit this kind of behavior. The answer is no. Aside from amphibians that are naturally promiscuous, all other classes of vertebrates show threat display whenever intruders come close to their partners. For humans, you'll hardly see them physically chasing or scaring away intruders. However, the engagement or marriage ring alone is capable of doing that.

Final thoughts

The concept of reproduction is really a broad one; yet, oftentimes the aspects of reproductive behaviors are always completely ignored and it's not supposed to be so. For today we pinpointed on the importance of maturity; timing; communication signals; as well as defending partners from intruders as behaviors that can aid in a successful reproduction of new species. I sincerely hope you've learned a thing or two from this article. Thanks for doing this with me. Till next time!

To read more about this topic, check out this REFERENCE

Ramalingam, S. (2011). Modern Biology, 6th Edition. Nigeria: Africana First Publishers Plc, pp. 464-466.

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