courtship Flashcards
what is a species?
a species is a group of organisms that can interbreed (reproduce with one another) to produce offspring that are fertile (can reproduce)
why is it hard to define the term species?
variation within a species, hybridisation and ring species
why is courtship carried out?
to attract members of the opposite sex in order to be able to mate
give 5 examples of courtship behaviour
releasing pheromones, using sounds, visual displays, dancing, building
why do species need to recognise members of the same species when mating?
courtship behaviour is species specific, it ensures that mating occurs only between members of the same species, only members of the same species will produce fertile offspring
why is it important that when mating, the organism identifies a mate that is capable of breeding?
both partners need to be sexually mature, fertile and receptive to mating
why is forming a pair bond important when mating?
leads to successful mating and raising of the offspring
why is synchronisation of mating important?
ensures that mating occurs when there is the maximum probability of the sperm and egg meeting
how do organisms use pheromones as courtship behaviour?
animals attract the opposite sex by releasing chemicals
how do organisms use sounds to attract a mate?
animals use grunts, chirps etc to call a mate
how do visual displays attract a mate?
animals will show off plumage, feather, their size etc
how does dancing aid mating?
animals dance to attract the opposite sex
how does building attract a mate?
animal show their skills to the opposite sex
what are the 4 needs when securing a mate?
- recognising members of the same species
- identifying a mate that is capable of breeding
- forming a pair bond
- synchronisation of mating
how does standard deviation help the interpretation of data?
lower standard deviation means the data is more reliable and shows the spread in the data
