3. Sexual Selection

Question 1

What is Darwin’s definition of sexual selection

Answer 1

A special case of natural selection related to the evolution of sexual characteristics

Question 2

What are primary sexual characteristics

Answer 2

Differences in male and female genitalia

Question 3

What are secondary sexual characteristics

Answer 3

Traits that attract mates competition or attraction

Question 4

what are the two categories of sexual selection

Answer 4

intrasexual selection and intersexual selection

Question 5

what is intrasexual selection

Answer 5

same sex competition for mating/reproduction

Question 6

what is intersexual selection

Answer 6

members of one sex choose the opposite sex member for mating/reproduction

Question 7

What is the Bateman’s principle

Answer 7

females are choosy and males are indiscriminate; variation in male reproductive success; degree of parental investment is inversely related to reproductive success

Question 8

sexual selection is strong in what mating system

Answer 8

polyandrous and polygamous species

Question 9

what puts greater pressure on secondary sexual characteristics

Answer 9

greater variation in reproductive success

Question 10

what are the four classes of evolutionary models based on female choice

Answer 10

direct benefits; good genes; runaway selection; sensory exploitation

Question 11

female mate choice theory is under what control

Answer 11

genetic control; behavior is linked to reproductive success

Question 12

what is the Zuk-Hamilton model of parasite resistance

Answer 12

traits that are true indicators of genetic quality are superior

Question 13

what is the major histocompatibility complex

Answer 13

self vs. foreign cell identification; females prefer mates with complementary MHC

Question 14

what type of male do choosy females prefer

Answer 14

elaborate males

Question 15

what type of male do non choosy females prefer

Answer 15

no preference

Question 16

why is a male trait important in sensory bias and mat choice

Answer 16

it elicits a prior held sensory/neurobiological bias, then it becomes associated with mate choice secondarily

Question 17

what is sexual imprinting

Answer 17

early social experience that affects species recognition in adults during courtship and mating

Question 18

what are the types of imprinting

Answer 18

filial; sexual; chemical

Question 19

what is mate choice copying

Answer 19

female preferences is affected other female choice in population

Question 20

what is the curvilinear function

Answer 20

immature and older males show lower reproduction rates than males at peak physical fitness

Question 21

what are honest indicators of strength in red deer

Answer 21

length of vocal tract predictor of body size

Question 22

what are alternative strategies for male-male competition

Answer 22

males show phenotypic variation

Question 23

what are examples of cuckoldry in blue gill sunfish

Answer 23

parental males hold and defend territories; sneaker males resemble parental type but do not hold territory; satellite males resemble females

Question 24

how is sperm different in parental males and sneaker males

Answer 24

parental males invest in fewer high quality sperm where as sneaker males invest in many short lived low quality sperm