Ovulation mode modifies paternity monopolization in mammals.
There are two forms of ovulation: spontaneous and induced. As copulation triggers ovulation for induced ovulators, males can predict the timing of ovulation and may have greater paternity monopolization than spontaneous ovulators. However, this prediction has never, to my knowledge, been tested. Using a cross-species comparison I examined the percentage of offspring sired within a litter (single paternity) and in social species the percentage of offspring sired by the dominant male (alpha paternity). My results indicate that ovulation mode alters the ability of males to monopolize paternity, with males of induced ovulators having higher single paternity and greater alpha paternity where male-female association is intermittent.
Soulsbury
Carl D
CD
School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK. carl.soulsbury@bristol.ac.uk
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012930:Social Dominance; D013045:Species Specificity