By confusing paternity, estrus may __________.
A) encourage all the males to avoid the female
B) discourage all the males from being aggressive towards the female and her offspring
C) discourage all the males from mating with the female
D) encourage all the males to mate with non-estrus females

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By confusing paternity, males are less likely to be aggressive towards the female and her offspring because they may be unsure if the offspring are their own. This can lead to less competition and more cooperative behavior among males. It may also discourage males from mating with the female, but it is not a guaranteed outcome. Similarly, it may encourage males to mate with non-estrus females, but this is not necessarily the primary effect.

By Confusing Paternity, Estrus May __________