Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses
Published on: September 19, 2011
Ovulation mode modifies paternity monopolization in mammals
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK. carl.soulsbury@bristol.ac.uk
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.
Related Concept Videos
Ovarian Cycle
Nondisjunction
Oogenesis
Oogenesis
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...
X-Inactivation
X-inactivation
