Mate Choice and Sociality in Evolutionary Biology

Question 1

Sexual Selection

Answer 1

Darwin’s concept explaining non-adaptive male traits.

Question 2

Assortative Mating

Answer 2

Mating preference for similar phenotypes.

Question 3

Sociality

Answer 3

Living in groups for breeding and survival.

Question 4

Altruism

Answer 4

Behavior benefiting others at personal cost.

Question 5

Eusociality

Answer 5

Cooperative breeding and division of labor.

Question 6

Sex Differences

Answer 6

Variations in traits between male and female.

Question 7

Gamete Size

Answer 7

Females produce larger, more resource-rich gametes.

Question 8

Parental Care

Answer 8

Investment in offspring survival and development.

Question 9

Lifetime Reproductive Success

Answer 9

Total offspring produced over an individual’s life.

Question 10

Alpha Male

Answer 10

Dominant male with highest reproductive success.

Question 11

Differential Variance

Answer 11

Differences in reproductive success among sexes.

Question 12

Intersexual Choice

Answer 12

Female selection based on male traits.

Question 13

Intrasexual Competition

Answer 13

Male competition for access to females.

Question 14

Aesthetics in Mate Choice

Answer 14

Preferences based on visual appeal in males.

Question 15

Good Genes Hypothesis

Answer 15

Females choose males with superior genetic traits.

Question 16

Cedar Waxwing

Answer 16

Bird species exemplifying aesthetic mate choice.

Question 17

Peacock Eyespot

Answer 17

Indicator of male quality and offspring success.

Question 18

House Finch

Answer 18

Species where females prefer redder males.

Question 19

Vogelkop Bowerbird

Answer 19

Species known for elaborate courtship displays.

Question 20

California Elephant Seal

Answer 20

Species with extreme male reproductive competition.

Question 21

Sexual Dimorphism

Answer 21

Distinct differences in size or appearance.

Question 22

Natural Selection

Answer 22

Process driving evolution through survival advantages.

Question 23

Kin Selection

Answer 23

Evolutionary strategy favoring relatives’ reproductive success.

Question 24

Conflict in Evolution

Answer 24

Struggles impacting evolutionary outcomes among species.

Question 25

Mating Systems

Answer 25

Patterns of mate selection and reproductive strategies.

Question 26

Stalk-eyed fly

Answer 26

Example of a species under sexual selection.

Question 27

Honest signalling

Answer 27

Signals that accurately reflect an individual's quality.

Question 28

The Handicap Principle

Answer 28

Costly traits indicate fitness and health.

Question 29

Assortative mating

Answer 29

Preference for similar phenotypes in mate selection.

Question 30

Optimal outbreeding

Answer 30

Mating strategy to enhance genetic diversity.

Question 31

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)

Answer 31

Genes important for immune system function.

Question 32

Sweaty T-shirt experiment

Answer 32

Study showing female preference for diverse MHC types.

Question 33

Parental care

Answer 33

Investment by parents in offspring survival.

Question 34

Parent-offspring conflict

Answer 34

Disagreement over resource allocation between generations.

Question 35

Siblicide

Answer 35

Nestlings kill siblings for survival advantages.

Question 36

Cooperative breeding

Answer 36

Helpers assist in raising offspring of others.

Question 37

Meerkat sentinel

Answer 37

Non-breeder watches for predators during foraging.

Question 38

Meerkat helpers

Answer 38

Assist in the development and survival of pups.

Question 39

Infanticide in meerkats

Answer 39

Pregnant females kill others' young to ensure survival.

Question 40

Colony structure in naked mole rats

Answer 40

Single queen restricts breeding in the colony.

Question 41

Courtship behavior

Answer 41

Elaborate rituals to attract mates.

Question 42

Genetic compatibility

Answer 42

Ability to maintain healthy offspring through diversity.

Question 43

Olfactory cues

Answer 43

Chemical signals used in mate selection.

Question 44

Dominant females in meerkats

Answer 44

Account for most surviving offspring in groups.

Question 45

Lookout alarm

Answer 45

Distinct bark warns of predators to protect group.

Question 46

Overlapping generations

Answer 46

Multiple age groups coexist within a colony.

Question 47

Division of labor

Answer 47

Specialization of roles within a social group.

Question 48

Behavioral compatibility

Answer 48

Preference for mates with similar behaviors.

Question 49

Genetic diversity

Answer 49

Variety of genes within a population.