Human sex ratio as it relates to caloric availability

Datos Bibliográficos

ID5958151
AutoresRichard J Williams (0000-0002-9558-9588, Government of Manitoba, autor de correspondencia), Robert J Williams (0000-0002-3943-0273), Susan P Gloster (Government of Manitoba)
Año1992
Volumen39
Número3-4
Páginas285-291
Fecha de publicación1992-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBiodemography and Social Biology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1948-5565 • E-ISSN: 1948-5573
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19485565.1992.9988823
PMID1340046
OpenAlexW2024785001
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas25

The relationship between human sex ratios at birth and caloric availability per capita was examined across different countries. Significant positive correlations were obtained between the amount of food a country had available and the percentage of male births. Furthermore, increases or decreases in a country's caloric availability were related to corresponding changes in that country's sex ratio. These results provide evidence of adaptive sex ratio biasing in humans. The physiological mechanism by which this effect operates is probably higher mortality rates for male embryos and fetuses as a result of nutritional deficiencies and associated stressors

Biology · Caloric theory · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Global Maternal and Child Health · Psychology · Endocrinology