3. Mating Systems Flashcards
what is a mating system
characteristic pattern of mating relationship among opposite sex members of a species
how are mating systems emergent
natural selection influences behavioral and neural correlates that interact with prevailing ecological conditions to produce formation different mating strategies and systems
does natural selection affect individual traits or group traits
individual traits
what is monogamy
neither sex able to monopolize additional members of opposite sex; fitness maximized through shared parental investment
what is polygyny
individual males frequently control organ access to multiple females
what is polyandry
individual females frequently control or gain access to multiple males
what is polygynandry
individual males and females frequently control or gain access to multiple members of the opposite sex
what did Emlen and Oring propose
that mating systems are manifestation of the interaction between two factors; sexual conflict via differential selection on males and females to max their reproductive success; ecological via resource limitation and distribution
what mating system is rare
monogamy
Neurobiological study of prairie dog monogamy
Oxytocin and vasopressin injections induce pair bonding
How does dopamine receptor correlate with monogamy
D2 receptors linked to pair bonding behavior between sexes; D1 receptors linked to aggression toward opposite sex after pair bonding
What are the two basic forms of polygamous mating systems
Polygyny and polyandry
What are two temporal variations of polygamous mating systems
Simultaneous and sequential
What is sequential mating system
Form Many short term bonds over the course of the breeding cycle
What is simultaneous mating system
Maintain multiple partners in the same general time frame
What are characteristics of leks
Males gather together; display for females; females choose males; one or a few males dominate
What are the three lek mate choice hypotheses
Hotshot; hotspot; female preference
What is the hotshot hypothesis
Male with the best display gets the female
What is the hotspot hypothesis
The location of a male in the lek determines his success
What is the female preference hypothesis
She wants a lot of males for comparison
What are females benefit from lek mating
Good gene hypothesis and sexy son hypothesis
What is the good gene hypothesis
Leks provide the opportunity to compare many males and select health/vigorous male traits that lead to offspring with higher survival probability
What is the sexy son hypothesis
Leks provide the opportunity to compare many males and select attractive male traits that lead to the production of male offspring with attractive traits
What are male benefits of lek mating
Direct reproductive success and indirect reproductive success
What is direct reproductive success
Studies show 80% of total mating attributed single successful male in lek
What is indirect reproductive success
Male may receive benefits by helping kin
In what mating systems is promiscuous behavior present
Polygynous and polyandrous mating
What are the two types of promiscuous mating
Without pair bonds and with pair bonds
What causes female reproductive success in polygyny mating systems
Availability of resource not to the availability of mates
What is the polygyny threshold model
A female may be better off becoming the second “wife” if the male’s territory is rich and allows her to raise more offspring than if she paired with a male who had a poor territory
What determines a males reproductive success in a variable mating system within a single population
The number of mates and the access to sole mating privilege
What determines a females success in a variable mating system within a single population
Success is related to male parental help and habitat quality
