Mating Patterns Flashcards
What is the Bateman Principle?
States that male reproductive success should increase with multiple matings, whereas female reproductive success shouldn’t.
Males are selected to maximise quantity, whereas females are selected to maximise quality.
The male:female dictates reproductive success variance.
What are the general mating patterns in males?
Invest less in offspring fitness
Compete for reproductive success
High variance in
reproductive success
High reproductive potential
Intense mating competition
Low mate choice
What are the general mating patterns in females?
Invest heavily in offspring fitness
Tend to be the ‘choosy’ sex
Low variance in reproductive success
Lower reproductive potential
Weak mating competition
High mate choice
What are mating patterns?
Descriptors of behaviour related to the acquisition of mates. Useful for understanding the evolution of mating patterns, but are complex and can be plastic.
What is monogamy?
1 male mates with 1 female.
Associated with biparental care.
Social and genetic monogamy
90% of bird species
What is polygyny?
1 male mates with several females
Usually without paternal care
Overt male:male competition
Sneak/satellite males
Male-biased sexual size dimorphism
Leks - organised displays of male secondary sexual traits for females to choose from.
What is polyandry?
1 female mates with several males
Can be with or without paternal care
Generates sperm competition
Common and can occur with social monogamy
What is promiscuity?
Many males mate with many females
No pair bonds formed
Uniparental/parental care uncommon
Common outside of birds and mammals
What are some examples of alternative mating tactics?
Mimics - male mimics a female, goes unnoticed by the alpha male.
Sneaker - small enough to go unnoticed by alpha male
Colour variation
Male mate choice
How do variations in space and time influence the evolution of mating patterns?
Time - high asynchrony of mates favours polygamy, high synchrony favours monogamy.
Space - Spatial pattern of resource dispersion e.g. food, breeding sites and mates.
