How autumn changes animal sexual behaviour – including that of humans

By Louise Gentle, Principal Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University

In the northern hemisphere, days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping – autumn has arrived. A common sign that winter is coming is trees losing their leaves. But, did you know that autumn also sparks changes in animals’ sexual behaviour – including ours?

For example, humans actually have a breeding season. The hormone testosterone surges in autumn, particularly in males, linked to a decrease in daylight and increased social activity indoors. This leads to more…

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