Part 16 (2/2)
Bagemihl scoured the scientific literature for data left out of the main findings and interviewed researchers to uncover data that was absent from the literature altogether. His book, based on ten years of avid research, rocked the reproductive biology world. Biological Exuberance: Animal s.e.xuality and Natural Diversity Biological Exuberance: Animal s.e.xuality and Natural Diversity revealed that nonbreeding behavior is common in hundreds of animals. From sheep to vampire bats, 470 species have been observed engaged in masturbation, f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o, h.o.m.os.e.xuality, or other nonbreeding s.e.xual behavior. In contrast to the short-nosed fruit bats, however, most instances were same-s.e.x encounters or experimentation between playful juveniles, and not a regular part of adult heteros.e.xual coupling. revealed that nonbreeding behavior is common in hundreds of animals. From sheep to vampire bats, 470 species have been observed engaged in masturbation, f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o, h.o.m.os.e.xuality, or other nonbreeding s.e.xual behavior. In contrast to the short-nosed fruit bats, however, most instances were same-s.e.x encounters or experimentation between playful juveniles, and not a regular part of adult heteros.e.xual coupling.
Nonreproductive s.e.x raises questions-as well as eyebrows-especially if it is commonplace. According to Darwinian evolution theory, animals are instruments for gene propagation, so why waste energy on pointless s.e.xual pursuits? Try as one might, it is difficult to ascribe any direct evolutionary benefit to ”batty behavior.” But if there is no reproductive benefit, why is kinky s.e.x so popular?
Primate experience might provide some insight. In the majority of human matings, there is no ostensible tie with reproduction. We have no cues to show we are ovulating, so we do it throughout a woman's reproductive cycle, we do it long after we cease being fertile, and we do it all for pleasure. Bon.o.bos aren't much different. Of their s.e.xual liaisons, 75 percent happen when the females are not fertile, lending credence to the idea that s.e.x is partly driven by pleasure. In fact, some bold researchers argue that pleasure itself provides a huge incentive to engage in s.e.x frequently (well, duh duh) and the more often an animal has s.e.x, the greater the chance that a bun is rising in the oven.
Well and good for primates, but why do do female fruit bats female fruit bats spend their precious time performing f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o? Maybe bats are doing it for fun, and maybe not. There might be more practical reasons for their oral obsession. The authors speculate that f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o might prolong mating by maintaining the erection and increasing lubrication, which in turn may facilitate sperm transport. Longer mating also keeps the male occupied and away from rival ladies. And hygiene may play a role-saliva has antimicrobial properties and may protect against diseases. Some bat species lick themselves post-coitus, presumably for this reason. spend their precious time performing f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o? Maybe bats are doing it for fun, and maybe not. There might be more practical reasons for their oral obsession. The authors speculate that f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o might prolong mating by maintaining the erection and increasing lubrication, which in turn may facilitate sperm transport. Longer mating also keeps the male occupied and away from rival ladies. And hygiene may play a role-saliva has antimicrobial properties and may protect against diseases. Some bat species lick themselves post-coitus, presumably for this reason.
There are also less obvious benefits beyond enhancing reproduction. Consider those playful bon.o.bo chimps, who will purportedly have intimate relations regardless of age, gender, location, or time. Research suggests that their ”loose” behavior reduces social tensions, enhances bonding, and resolves conflicts in their large, close community. Fondling a friend helps a bon.o.bo gain access to resources (”I like your banana and I'm willing to give you f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o for it”) or turn an enemy into an ally. This indirectly improves reproductive success.
Whether frisky fruit bats are fellating for social leverage, for fun, or for fecundity remains unclear. But it does provide a thought-provoking example of nonbreeding behavior in animals, and might encourage open-mindedness about the issue. Scientists will have to keep spying-in the middle of the night and in strange places-to uncover the diversity and meaning of it all. Until then, let the festivities continue.
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FURTHER READING:.
Bruce Bagemihl, Biological Exuberance: Animal h.o.m.os.e.xuality and Natural Diversity Biological Exuberance: Animal h.o.m.os.e.xuality and Natural Diversity (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999), 768. (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999), 768.
Frans De Waal, Bon.o.bo: The Forgotten Ape Bon.o.bo: The Forgotten Ape (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997), 200. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997), 200.
Jared Diamond, Why Is s.e.x Fun?: The Evolution of Human s.e.xuality Why Is s.e.x Fun?: The Evolution of Human s.e.xuality (New York: Basic Books, 1997), 176. (New York: Basic Books, 1997), 176.
M. Tan, G. Jones, G. Zhu, J. Ye, T. Hong, et al., ”f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o by Fruit Bats Prolongs Copulation Time,” PLoS ONE 4 (2009), 10, parison, a ma.s.s of party balloons is completely at the mercy of the wind.
This priest's audacious attempt to set a world record (currently, nineteen hours ) for cl.u.s.tered balloon flight was dreamed up to publicize his plan to build spiritual rest stops for truckers. More rest stops are sorely needed, as sure as sore b.u.ms need rest. But as truckers know, sitting put for nineteen hours is no trivial matter, even in the comfort of a decked-out lawn chair.
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The priest did take numerous precautions: wearing a survival suit; packing a buoyant chair, a satellite phone, and GPS. However, the late A.A. made a fatal mistake. He did not learn how to use one important safety feature: the GPS.
Once he was well aloft the wind changed, as winds do, and he was blown inexorably toward open sea. He could have parachuted to safety while over land but chose not to. but chose not to. When the voyager was perilously lost at sea, he finally phoned for help-but rescuers were unable to determine his location, since he could not use his GPS. He struggled with the unit as the cell phone batteries dwindled and died. When the voyager was perilously lost at sea, he finally phoned for help-but rescuers were unable to determine his location, since he could not use his GPS. He struggled with the unit as the cell phone batteries dwindled and died.
Instead of a GPS, the priest let G.o.d be his guide.
Over the next few weeks, bits of balloons began appearing on mountains and beaches-indications that G.o.d had guided him straight to heaven! Ultimately the priest's body surfaced, confirming that he had indeed ”paid a visit to the boss.”
The kicker? It's a Double Darwin. Catholic priests take vows of celibacy and voluntarily remove themselves voluntarily remove themselves from the gene pool. The entire group earns a ma.s.s Darwin Award, so . . . Father Antonio wins twice! from the gene pool. The entire group earns a ma.s.s Darwin Award, so . . . Father Antonio wins twice!
Reference: globo.com, Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Morning Herald, a.s.sociated Press, and numerous others [image]
Reader Comments
”Don't get carried away.”
”Chairway to Heaven.”
”Shows the danger of relying on GPS.”
”See what happens when you swear off women?”
”There but for the grace of . . .”
”One-way ticket to paradise.”
”To heaven-or bust!”
”There but for the grace of Tec.u.mseh . . .”
”G.o.d's will be done!”
SCIENCE SOAPBOX: REST STOPS ARE NECESSARY AND GOODFather Adelir Antonio gave his life for a worthy cause: To halt the closure of roadside rest stops, which are urgently needed in areas with long stretches of freeway that lack commercial services. Rest stops provide a much-needed break for weary drivers, and are especially needed by truckers who transport food and merchandise across the country. They cost little to maintain and increase public safety. The closure of rest stops in Brazil was blasted by the media as unnecessary, harmful, and bad policy. Father Adelir gave his life for a laudable goal. He is a brave and s.h.i.+ning example of the good done by Catholic clergy.
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BALLOON HOAXOn October 15, 2009, the distraught parents of a six-year-old reported that their child was possibly adrift aboard a huge, homemade helium balloon that they had launched from their lawn. The silver, flying saucer-shaped dirigible was tracked by National Guard helicopters and local police as it drifted across Colorado for sixty miles. Planes were rerouted around the object's flight path and Denver International Airport was briefly shut down. The balloon finally landed after a two-hour flight-but the child was not on board.Fearing that the youth had fallen from the balloon, authorities began a comprehensive manhunt of the entire area beneath its flight path. Worldwide media followed the spectacle, which culminated hours later with the anticlimactic discovery that the child had been hiding at home the entire time!Suspicions soon arose that the incident was a hoax and publicity stunt, particularly following a family interview by Wolf Blitzer on Larry King Live. Larry King Live. The youngster, when asked the reason for hiding, turned to Dad and blurted out, ”You guys said that, um, we did this for the show.” The family had twice been featured in a reality TV show, and may have been eager for a third run. The youngster, when asked the reason for hiding, turned to Dad and blurted out, ”You guys said that, um, we did this for the show.” The family had twice been featured in a reality TV show, and may have been eager for a third run.Two months later, Dad pleaded guilty to ”attempting to influence a public servant” and was sentenced to ninety days in jail and fined $36,000; Mom was sentenced to twenty weekend days in jail.Reference: Condensed from Wikipedia.org Double Darwin Award Winner: Double Parking Confirmed by Darwin Featuring macho gunmen
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