Female mating strategies

Question 1

Mating with many males helps to ensure fertilisation. True or false?

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In what cases can sperm become depleted? Give 2 examples

Answer 2

1. When females synchronise

2. When mating is seasonal

Question 3

Why is sperm depleted?

Answer 3

By frequent/recent copulation

Question 4

How does the polygyny threshold model demonstrate a female reproductive strategy?

Answer 4

Females would prefer to be the second mate to a male with a good territory than the only mate of a male in a poor territory. Sharing plentiful resources is better than controlling poor ones, and so she increases her own survival and repro rate.

Question 5

The polygyny threshold model contradicts one of the main theories in primate socioecology. Which one and why?

Answer 5

Primate socioecology dictates that male distribution maps onto female distribution, as females are the males’ limiting resource for reproduction.
Basically food availability = females = males

The polygyny threshold model contradicts this as it predicts that females map onto male distribution because the males possess abundant food.
Food = males = females

Question 6

Multiple mating could be attributed to ally formation. Why?

Answer 6

Females may mate with multiple partners so they will all protect her from other males/females.

Question 7

If a male believes an infant is his, is he likely to invest in it?

Answer 7

Yes, sometimes the male will carry the infant or babysit it whilst the mother is resting/feeding.

Question 8

Confusing paternity through multiple mating gives 3 major benefits. What are they?

Answer 8

1. Lowers infanticide risk
2. Increases protection from potential fathers
3. Males may invest in the infant, freeing up time/energy for mother to increase her survival

Question 9

Females will mate with the infanticidal male that killed their baby. Why? Give 2 reasons.

Answer 9

1. She wants to pass on her genes and to do so needs a new baby
2. Her offspring will inherit this male’s genes and ensure they will be successful competitors, again increasing transmission of her own genes

Question 10

You are more fertile in the months immediately after a miscarriage. True or false?

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Females are often attracted to unrelated males. Why?

Answer 11

An evolutionary adaptation against inbreeding

Question 12

Not all female primates show sexual swellings. How do they indicate ovulation instead?

Answer 12

Behavioural changes to receptivity (accepting sex) and proceptivity (soliciting sex)

Question 13

What is mittleschmerz?

Answer 13

Ovulatory pain, i.e. the pain felt when an egg is released

Question 14

What is spin?

Answer 14

Vaginal discharge around ovulation

Question 15

Mittleschmerz and spin occur in humans, who do not display pronounced sexual swellings. It is possible that non-human primates without swellings may understand their own ovulation via similar mechanisms. True or false?

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Sexual signals are graded. What does that mean?

Answer 16

They rely on the varying intensity of numerous, combined variables

Question 17

In what kind of species is male protection particularly helpful?

Answer 17

Dimorphic, as females are easily distinguished and picked on

Question 18

Why do sneaky matings occur more in sexually dimorphic species?

Answer 18

Males pose more of a physical threat and are more feared

Question 19

Females cannot hide their sexual swellings. How then do they confuse paternity?

Answer 19

Olfactory cues and behaviour, such as mating with multiple males or mating throughout her cycle

Question 20

Why do sexual swellings occur in polygynandrous systems?

Answer 20

Females have a large number of males to pick from and so incite competition to select the best mate

Question 21

Females experience different types of intra-sexual competition at different parts of their cycle. What must they compete for during a) estrus, b) gestation and c) lactation?

Answer 21

a) males
b) food and resources
c) infant care