1.5 - Evolutionary choices: sex + life histories Flashcards
Why do females invest more in reproduction
Females have larger gametes (egg much larger than sperm)
What are the costs of sex (4)
- sexual population 50:50 M/F if each female has 2 offspring population remains same
- half individuals make only sperm (cuts rate of population increase)
- have to find mate (conflict)
- Risk of reducing fitness
Benefits of sex (3)
- Genetic variability
- Spreads risks - range of phenotypes (some will be adapted to future conditions)
- Allows evolutionary change under selection
Name and describe 2 animals that don’t produce sexually (2)
- Aphids - Primarily parthenogenetic (asexual) - males appear annually
- Bdelloid rotifers - given up sex for atleast 30Mya (meiosis + males unknown)
what is a hermaphrodite? and give an example
- Animals that possess both genitalia (no 2 distinct sexes)
- Snails
what is the relationship between Octopus Bimaculatus and Octopus Bimaculoides?
O.bimaculatus and O.bimaculoides are similar and closely related small octopus (live in pacific coast of N.America)
What are the different reproductive strategies of O.Bimaculates and O.Bimaculoides? (2)
1.O.Bimaculates - eggs small and hatch into planktonic larvae
2.O.Bimaculoides - eggs large and hatchlings are benthic (bottom living)
Describe the octopus and human life histories (2)
- Octopus - lays many eggs, reproduces once (semelparous), dies before eggs hatch
- Humans - few offspring, born at long intervals, parental care, females live past reproductive age
Name the life history traits (8)
- Size at birth
- Growth pattern
- Age + size at maturity
- Number + size of offspring
- Age and size-specific reproductive investments
- Age and size-specific mortality schedules
- Length of life
- Sex
How many types of survivorship curves are there?
3
Describe the type 1 survivorship curve (3)
- Convex curves
- High survival rates in early/middle life
- Followed by rapid decline
What type of species does the type 1 survivorship curve represent?
Species that care for few offspring
Describe the type 2 survivorship curve (3)
- Diagonal curves
- Mortality rate/ survival probability independent of age
- Exponential decline
What species follow the type 2 survivorship curve?
some birds and lizards
Describe the type 3 survivorship curve (3)
- Concave curves
- Greatest mortality in early life
- Relatively low rates of death for those surviving early life bottleneck