title: A further note on the rises in sex ratio at birth during and just after the two World Wars.
abstract: It is well established that in most belligerent countries in World Wars 1 and 2, sex ratios (proportions male at birth) rose during and just after hostilities: then, a year or so later, they declined to normal levels. There is no established explanation for these phenomena. I have previously written on this problem. Here, I elaborate on my previous papers in three ways. First, further evidence (some analytic and some synthetic) is adduced to support the hypothesis that the rises were caused by high parental coital rates. Second, further evidence is adduced to suggest that these high coital rates occurred disproportionately often in couples of whom the man was (or had been) in the armed services. Thirdly, evidence is offered to suggest why such rises in sex ratio were not reported in other conflicts.
authors.affiliation: The Galton Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, UK. Electronic address: w.james@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. Electronic address: jd.valentine@virgin.net.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valentine
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012107:Research Design; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000266:history*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047828:World War I; D047789:World War II
keywords: Coital rates