Synonyms
Definition
It is the certainty perceived by the male parent that he is the biological father of the offspring.
Introduction
In most species of birds, mammals, and in some fish, extensive biparental care is observed (Safari and Goymann 2018). The amount of parental investment varies considerably, with females typically investing more than males (Safari and Goymann 2018). Caring for offspring demands an investment of time and resources, which competes with future reproductive success (Trivers 1972). Thus, certainty of paternity is, for many species, key for paternal investment. Mechanisms which may have developed to address this issue include the formation of monogamous couples, the sexual control of females, and different degrees of parental investment.
Paternity Certainty and Paternal Care
In species with internal fertilization like mammals, mothers are always completely sure about her relationship with her offspring. However,...
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References
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de Miranda Ramos, M., Vasconcelos, I.G. (2019). Paternity Certainty. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_129-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_129-1
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