Hormones and Paternal Behavior in Vertebrates

This review examines the influence of hormonal stimulation onpaternal care in selected species of fish, birds and mammals.Correlational studies of hormonal changes and the occurrenceof paternal behavior as well as experimental studies are considered.Understanding the influence of hormones on paternal behavioris complicated by whether the species studied shows maternal,paternal or biparental care and by the interactions among hormonalchanges, prior experience and responses to external stimuli.It is evident that hormonal changes may be the result as wellas the stimulus for paternal care and that stimuli from nests,eggs and young may be important for inducing the hormonal conditionswhich maintain paternal care. Hormonal determinants of sexualdifferentiation and the neuroendocrine control of paternal behaviorare discussed. Although there are few theories which includethe role of hormones in paternal care, some hypotheses relatingto the "association hypothesis" of Gross and Shine (1981) areconsidered and suggestions are made for future studies.