Replication Data for: Fig 15.21, BGUW, Percentage of weanlings sired by male(s) that copulated with mother, 22 May 2026

GPD colony at Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) was studied at VCNP from 1989 through 1995. These data used for Fig 15.21 in Hoogland 2026. This file ready for longterm storage on 21 March 2025.

Electrophoresis was used to verify BTPD paternities. Microsatellites were used to verify GPD, UPD, and WTPD paternities. See Chapters 19 and 20.

The number above the bars in Fig 15.21 indicates the number of weanlings for which I was able (a) to score all the sexually mature males that copulated with the mother and (b) to infer paternity from behavioral observations of estrus and copulation(s) in combination with biochemical estimates paternity from either electrophoresis (BTPDs) or microsatellites for GPDs, UPDs, and WTPDs. Note that information in this Fig 15.21 is from summaries of raw data discussed and presented in Chapters 19 and 20.

This Fig 15.21 shows that observations of marked male and female prairie dogs can help a behavioral ecologist to predict which(s) will sired offspring a female--as demonstrated by biochemical techniques such as electrophoresis (BTPDs) or microsatellites (the other three species) When a female prairie dog of any species copulated with two males, the first male might have sired all the offspring, the second male might have sired all the offspring, or each male might have sired >=1 of the offspring (Multiple Paternity).

See chapters 19 and 20 of Hoogland 2026. File name = Fig 15.21, BGUW, Percentage of weanlings sired by male(s) that copulated with mother, 22 May 2026