Abstract
In this chapter, the role of maternal effects in shaping offspring reproductive behavior in mammals is explored and the implications of these effects for subsequent generations are discussed. The role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating these maternal effects are also explored. Maternal effects can occur across development and influence many aspects of offspring phenotype. When these effects alter reproductive behavior there can be consequences for subsequent generations of offspring. There is evidence for reproductive changes in offspring as a consequence of preconceptual, prenatal, and postnatal maternal environment. Traditional views on the mechanisms through which these effects occur have been limited to genetic germline perturbations resulting in transgenerational inheritance to subsequent generations. However, increasing understanding of the stable regulation of gene expression through DNA methylation in response to maternal cues presents a novel approach to the study of the nongenomic inheritance. From an evolutionary perspective, these effects may represent an adaptive response to changes in environmental conditions to which offspring will be exposed in adulthood. Environments may decrease fertility, sexual receptivity, and maternal care under conditions of severe threat or disruption such that females delay investment in reproduction until more favorable conditions arise. Conversely, when resources are plentiful and threat is low, mothers and offspring may increase the quantity and quality of reproductive investment.