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Comparative Study
. 2010 Feb 23;6(1):39-41.
doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0703. Epub 2009 Oct 7.

Ovulation mode modifies paternity monopolization in mammals

Carl D Soulsbury  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Ovulation mode modifies paternity monopolization in mammals

Carl D Soulsbury. Biol Lett. .

Abstract

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.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The relationship between single and multiple paternity, with induced (filled circles) and spontaneous (empty circles) ovulators shown. The regression line (y =−0.4591x + 99.006) is shown through all the data.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Box-plot of alpha paternity in relation to male–female association (CA, continuous association; IA, intermittent association) and ovulation mode.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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