mating + parent / offspring behaviour terminology

Question 1

fixed action pattern

Answer 1

a series of actions or behaviours displayed in a strict order that are triggered by a certain stimulus (they cannot be completed without all the steps)

Question 2

lek

Answer 2

collection of males gathering to compete and display courtship rituals to impress females

Question 3

secondary sexual characteristics

Answer 3

attributes held by the male which display health, vigour, quality or dominance (e.e. large antlers, bright colours, long tail)

Question 4

mating systems

Answer 4

the way animal populations are structured in relation to reproductive / sexual behaviour

Question 5

parental behaviours

Answer 5

behaviour from parent to offspring that contributes to offspring survival

Question 6

paternal

Answer 6

parental behaviour by the father

Question 7

maternal

Answer 7

parental behaviour by the mother

Question 8

imprinting

Answer 8

a type of learning that enables offspring to recognise its parent and distinguish it from other adults in the flock / herd

Question 9

filial imprinting

Answer 9

a young animal learns the characteristics of its parent

Question 10

sexual imprinting

Answer 10

a young male animal learns to recognise a future mate by relating it to the appearance of the mother animal

Question 11

precocial

Answer 11

offspring are independent (able to see, move etc) from birth and tend to imprint on their mother within the first 24 hours of birth (e.e. greylag geese)

Question 12

altricial

Answer 12

offspring are born helpless and often blind, and will not imprint until later in life, when they become more independent and able to follow their mother (e.e. kittens)

Question 13

monogamy

Answer 13

male and female mating relationship; exclusive to one another, serially or for life

Question 14

promiscuity

Answer 14

any male and female mating within a group / population

Question 15

polygamy

Answer 15

one or more males having a relationship with one or more females

Question 16

polygyny (within polyamory)

Answer 16

one male having a relationship with two or more females

Question 17

polyandry (within polygamy)

Answer 17

one female having a relationship with two or more males

Question 18

polgynandry (within polyamory)

Answer 18

two or more males having a relationship with two or more females

Question 19

k strategist

Answer 19

• usually long lived
• large adult size
• few large offspring
• reproduce late in life
• slow development
• larger amount of parental care
• e.e. elephants

Question 20

r strategist

Answer 20

• short lived
• small adult size
• many small offspring
• reproduce early in life
• rapid development
• smaller amount of parental care
• e.e. frogs

Question 21

biparental

Answer 21

both parents raise young + better chance of offspring survival (e.e. birds)