Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Neuroethology > Evolution of reproduction > Flashcards

Evolution of reproduction Flashcards

Unit 3

1
Q

What are the general courtship sex roles

A

Males court, females choose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the advantage of “showing off” to courting males

A

Convey information about mate quality (advertising)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What supports the hypothesis that male courtship conveys info about mate quality

A

Females choose their mate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What question comes up when considering courtship with the bower birds

A

Are males that build superior bowers actually superior mates?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is found about males who build better bowers

A

Fewer parasites
More disease resistance genes - less able to be infected by lice
Bigger brain size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How did they find out that better bowers have bigger brains

A

Skull comparison of bower vs non bower building species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do females choose which bowing bird they want to court

A

Females spend weeks viewing bowers and courtship displays before setting on a mate, whom she will likely never see again after copulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How many mates to female bowers usually choose in one round of courtship

A

1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the distribution of male courting success in bowing birds

A

Unevenly distributed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the biological basis for why females are more selective of mates than males

A

Few eggs are produced (high energy investment, take up substantial % of females mass)
Millions- billions of sperm produced, less massive than egg
Eggs are limiting which sets up competition between sperm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the biological basis for why males want to have more mates

A

More mates = more eggs fertilized = more genes passed on = more fitness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the male strategy for optimizing fitness

A

Distinguish between new and familiar partners

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do male anolis lizards optimize fitness

A

Exhibit more courtship toward strangers than known companions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the female strategy for optimizing fitness

A

Make sure fertilized eggs survive and thrive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the male frogs parental investment

A

Carries tadpoles on back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the male katydid’s parental investment

A

Gives female edible spermatophore with nutrients for eggs and herself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the female ducks parental investment

A

Carries babies on back, protecting them from predators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the female wasps parental investment

A

Drags paralyzed cicada on back to the nest to feed young

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the two ways parental investment is good for females

A

Offspring extremely likely to carry her genes
Little incentive to mate again, greater ratio of receptive males:receptive females

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the three ways parental investment is bad for males

A

Paternity uncertain
Fertilize as many eggs as possible
Greater competition the more females are mated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why and how are sperm optimized

A

Optimized for good fertilization ability: fast, numerous small

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Why and how are eggs optimized

A

Large, immobile, nutrient rich

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What strategy does the optimization of sperm fall under

A

Number of offspring strategy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What strategy does the optimization of eggs fall under

A

Parental investment strategy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the three sex role differences in mating
Differences in: Gamete size Other forms of parental investment Resources donated directly to mates
26
What is the mating path normally followed by males
Lower parental investment and donations -> High levels of sexual activity -> Biased operational sex ratio -> Competition for mates -> More mates, higher the individuals fitness
27
What is the mating path normally followed by females
Higher parental investment and/or donations -> Low levels of sexual activity -> Biased operational sex ratio -> Selection among mates -> Better mate's quality, the higher the individuals fitness
28
What is an example of sex role reversal
Males get food and present to female of their choosing prior to mating, based on wing and leg decorations. Females compete for males and food gifts
29
What is a nupital gift
A gift given by male insects during courtship, which is not related to gametes. Usually can include proteins, ureic acid, etc
30
Describe nupital gifts in katydids
Males may reject mounting of 3.2 gram female in favor of stronger 3.5 gra females which will net them about 50% more eggs fertilized
31
Why are male katydids picky about which female they mount
They can only produce one nupital gift in their lifetime
32
What happens if conditions cause operational sex ratio to change within a single breeding season
Competition/sex roles can change in accordance
33
Describe the sex roles of pipe fish
Males choose mates and become pregnant
34
What happens if male pipe fish are impregnated by an unfavorable mate
Males abort embryos of ugly mothers
35
What is Darwin's definition of sexual selection
The advantage which certain individuals have over others of the same sex and species, in exclusive relation to reproduction
36
What does sexual selection account for
Costly courtship rituals and elaborate morphology (time, energy, developmental trade offs visible to enemies)
37
What is sexual selection different from
Slightly different from regular natural selection, which emphasized enhancing survival
38
What are the two traits female dung beetles must choose between
Horns or eyes
39
What is the benefits of a dung beetle having horns
Win more fights
40
What is the benefit of a dung beetle having eyes
Sneak up and inseminate a female with more sperm
41
What are dung beetles an example of
Body parts trade off
42
What are the three ways in which male competition leads to sexual selection
Dismantle bowers Defense Outright fighting
43
Dismantle bowers
Reduce competitors' mating prospects
44
2 aspects of defense
Watching and guarding one's territory Loss of territory = loss of mating opportunities
45
2 aspects of outright fighting (with 3 subaspects)
Body size is selected Body weapons are selected - Speed - Horns, antlers, tusks - Clubbed tails or spiny legs
46
Why is defense important
Fighting allows males to defend territory. Loss of territory = loss of opportunity to mate
47
Why is fighting important
Winners tend to mate more often so traits that enhance winning are sexually selected
48
What trait is sexually selected for in geckos
Speed
49
How is dominance hierarchy established
Battle for a short time early on
50
What happens to the alpha male in a dominance hierarchy
Reproduces more Fights less: uses threatening displays to discourage would-be battles
51
Describe the dominance hierarchy in Savanna baboons
Subordinate males challenge alpha Males get bitten and infected > females
52
What is the key alpha mating feature in dominance hierarchies
Mate when female is in estrous, and guard her from other males during her fertile period
53
What are the two reasons why the dominance mating advantage may be limited
Subordinates show willingness/ability to care for female's offspring, so she seeks him out next time Subordinates form male-male friendships and gang up on the alpha, force him to surrender the female he has been guarding (alternative tactics. compensation)
54
How does number of females relate to dominance rank
Number of females mated with lowers as dominance rank lowers
55
When do conditional mating strategies evolve
When circumstances are such that individual variation leads to differential success
56
What does evolution favor
Flexibility
57
How is flexibility related to conditional mating strategies
When social or physiological constraints become apparent, an individual can select a behavioral tactic that gives them the best chance for success
58
What are conditional mating strategies
The same animals can adopt multiple different strategies over its lifespan depending on the conditions, socially or environmentally
59
What do conditional mating strategies lead to
Evening the playing field for disadvantaged members
60
What animal displays conditional mating strategies
Male horseshoe crabs
61
How do male horseshoe crabs mate
Male grabs onto females (attached) or are solo, satellite males that crowd around paired couples hoping to mate with the female after the attached male releases her
62
What experiment was conducted with male horseshoe crabs
Wrap claws in plastic, put males at sea. Make note of the condition of the male, health of the eyes, shell, etc/ Poor condition males more likely to be satellite maters - have higher success than poor condition males that try to attach to females and fail
63
What is an alternate mating strategy example
Faster sperm transfer in small male iguanas
64
How does faster sperm transfer work in small male iguanas
Small males pre-ejaculate so that when they mount a female, on the fly, old sperm can be immediately transferred before a larger male pulls him off
65
What are the 3 mating strategies for the Panorpa Scorpionfly
1. Secrete saliva on a lead, wait for female to come by and eat it 2. Defend a dead insect as a food gift for a female 3. Grab female and force to mate

Neuroethology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions