L4 - Mating Systems

Question 1

What is serial monogamy?

Answer 1

Monogamy for 1 season / 1 litter / time period

Question 2

Give 3 reasons why males would consent to monogamy

Answer 2

1) Mate guarding - females are widely dispersed so would cost the male a lot to go find another, and if they left another male would come along
2) Mate assistance - males stay because assistance increases the survival chance of young - increased pup survival outweighs extra pup numbers gained from polygyny
3) Female enforcement - female would attack the male if he tries to attract other females

Question 3

Define polygyny

Answer 3

Polygyny: males have more than 1 female partners

Question 4

Define Polyandry

Answer 4

Polyandry: females have more than 1 male partners

Question 5

What factors affect female dispersal and what does this influence?

Answer 5

Resource dispersion, predation and benefits/costs of social living affect female dispersal.

Female dispersal affects male dispersal

Question 6

What female defence polygyny?

Answer 6

When a male defends a female for re-mating, very territorial

It improves the reproductive success of males

Question 7

What is a Lek?

Answer 7

A lek is an aggregation of males of males gathered to engage in competitive displays (lekking) that may entice passing females who are surveying for possible partners

Question 8

When do Leks occur?

Answer 8

Before or during the mating season

Question 9

What does the phrase HOTSPOTS OR HOTSHOTS mean?

Answer 9

Hotspots - go where they will find a female

Hotshots - poor quality males gather around the best males

Question 10

What effect does the removal of the dominant male have on a Lek?

Answer 10

Removal of the dominant male may:

Causes subordinate males to abandon their territories.
Others may fill in the gap

Question 11

What are the benefits of helping a genetic relative to males?

Answer 11

The population is related to kin - close to passing on your own genetics

Relatives that have never met take site close to each other

Question 12

Describe the 2 types of a polyandrous system

Answer 12

1)
a) Queen mates with more than 1 worker
b) Queen mates with a single male

2)
a) Conflict but genetically diverse colony
b) No conflict but colony is very genetically similar

3)
a + b) Genetic diversity helps prevent against wipe out during disease

Question 13

Give 4 benefits of Polyandrous systems

Answer 13

1) Sperm replenishment
2) Genetic benefits
3) Convenience
4) Maternal benefits - nuptial gifts, better egg position sites, paternal care

Question 14

What is a promiscuous system?

Answer 14

When both polyandry and polygyny occur at the same time: no pair bond is formed, males may have access to a rich resource territory

Question 15

Define and explain Polygnandry

Answer 15

Polygnandry: many simultaneous pair bonds

Polyandrous females receive the same treatment as females with only 1 mate
May include overlapping male territories

Question 16

What does EPC stand for?

Answer 16

Extra pair copulation - one or both of the mated pair seek mating’s with another partner

Question 17

What are the male and female advantages of EPCs?

Answer 17

Male: enhanced reproductive success

Female:

• increased egg fertilisation
• good genes of males reluctant to pair bond
• max genetic diversity
• increase direct benefits –? food protection etc.

Question 18

What is sperm competition?

Answer 18

Competition between sperm for access to the egg - once mated the male needs to protect the female from other males

Competition makes sperm swim faster:

• faster sperm have more success therefore less are required
• older sperm are slower and therefore more are needed (but live longer)