BOHA - 11

Question 1

Do males or females have a higher reproductive potential and why?

Answer 1

males due to number of sperm compared to number of eggs

Question 2

what is an operational sex ratio?

Answer 2

ratio of sexually active males to fertile females

Question 3

what is the concept of parental investment?

Answer 3

the relative amount of investment by each sex - its about trade offs as individuals have a finite amount of resources to invest

Question 4

what does parental investment determine?

Answer 4

how much competition and choosiness there is within a species

Question 5

what is sex role reversal?

Answer 5

where males invest more into rearing of offspring than females

Question 6

3 examples of varying parental investments by both male and female

Answer 6

1) peacocks - males put more energy in plumage and impressing females - females invest more into offspring
2) swans - male and female invest similarly - similar in appearance and both rear offspring
3) Jacana - females are bigger, brighter and compete for males - males invest more into offspring

Question 7

what is sperm competition a form of?

Answer 7

post copulatory sexual selection

Question 8

what is an adaptation to sperm competition?

Answer 8

testes size in comparison to body size

Question 9

what is females version of post copulatory sexual selection?

Answer 9

cryptic female choice - happens in reproductive tract - hostile environment for sperm only some survive