Effects of Early Paternal Presence upon Nonhuman Offsprings' Development

Both laboratory and field studies of the effects of pateralcare on offspring development are useful for explaining andcontrolling offspring development, for discovering the mechanismsinvolved, and for explainig the presence of and variance inpaternalcare. Many observers of paternal behaviors have simplyassumed that paternal care has beneficial effects on the offspring.This assumption need to be tested. Several experimental researchstrategies are discussed. Documented effects of paternal presenceon offspring development include effects on survival and growth,sexual maturation, sexual preference, aggressiveness, and varioussocial behaviors. Paternal modification of maternal behavioris one very interesting avenue through which fathers may affectthe development of their offspring, but it must be rememberedthat mothers, fathers, and offspring are each part of a complexweb of reciprocal relationships.