Dynamic duos: learning to care as a pair in the biparental prairie vole (<i>Microtus ochrogaster</i>).

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

A growing body of evidence shows that paternal care has long-lasting impacts on the social behavior of offspring, both in humans and other mammalian biparental species. However, fatherhood has historically been understudied and the dynamics of parental care adjustments based on their partner's behavior remain unclear. This study investigates how individuals adjust parenting behavior based on their experience as part of a parenting dyad in the biparental prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster).

Methods

We investigated how prairie voles learn to be parents by observing how their parental care effort changes over two consecutive litters. The first litter represents a naive context while the second litter represents an experienced context.

Results

On avera

SUBMITTER: Hinton TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12689902 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature