Chapter 6: Primate Reproductive Strategies Flashcards
what is a mating system?
the ways in which animals find reproductive partners and care for offspring
who is typically the primary caregiver of primate offspring?
the female
what is a strategy?
a set of evolved traits that solves an adaptive problem
what is a tactic?
specific behaviours that aid in the success of a strategy
what is a mating effort?
the activities related to conception (e.g. finding a mate)
what is a parenting effort?
activities related to offspring care (e.g. nursing, protecting eggs)
why is female care critical to primate offspring?
lactation and gestation
what condition needs to be present if males are to maximize their effort in finding multiple mates?
- mates need to be easy to find
- offspring can be adequately raised by females
what condition needs to be present if males are to maximize their effort in parental care?
- mates are hard to find
- offspring care requires both parents
what is the cost of a female investing largely in care of one offspring
this will result in fewer offspring total
why are young mothers at risk during pregnancy/offspring care?
- inexperienced
- allocating energy towards their own growth
why are old mothers at risk during pregnancy/offspring care?
- they have less time to raise their kids
- higher risk of error in cell division
primiparous vs multiparous
primiparous: first time mothers
multiparous: multiple offspring and multiple pregnancies
define gragarious
group living
define lactational amenorrhea
females are unable to get pregnant while they are breastfeeding their young
what are the results of weaning?
- more independent
- female is able to reproduce again
what does sexual selection favour?
traits that can increase reproductive success (usually in males)
what is intrasexual selection?
when there is male-male competition and the dominant male gets access to females
what is intersexual selection?
when the female gets the choice, and chooses the most attractive male
does intrasexual OR intersexual selection result in an exaggerated sexual dimorphism?
intrasexual (male vs male)
do pair bonds have high or low competition/sexual dimorphism?
low competition, low sexual dimorphism
do one male, multifemale groups have high or low competition/sexual dimorphism?
very high competition, extreme dimorphism
do multimale - multifemale groups have high or low competition/sexual dimorphism?
some competition, some sexual dimorphism
who is the largest threat to the male in one male - multifemale groups?
bachelor males, who belong to no group/small groups and look to challenge the dominant male
