Mating systems as behavioral patterns (exam 2)

Question 1

mating system

Answer 1

set of relationships between male and female during reproduction.

Question 2

Monogamy

Answer 2

one male mates with one female and they raise children together.

Question 3

Social monogamy

Answer 3

one male mates with one female and they raise children together.

Question 4

Genetic monogamy

Answer 4

All children of genetically monogamous pair produced by male and female of that pair

cheating occurs

Question 5

Ecological Determinants of Monogamy

Answer 5

-If successful rearing of young requires both parents, monogamy best
-if reproduction with one female produces better success of offspring vs mateing with multiple females due to resources.

Question 6

Resource defense polygyny

Answer 6

a mating system in which males compete for resources to support multiple female mates

Question 7

Harem defense polygyny

Answer 7

a mating system where a male defends a group of females to ensure multiple mating opportunities

Question 8

Male dominance polygyny

Answer 8

males compete for control of groups of females

Question 9

Ecological Determinants of Polygyny

Answer 9

-Spatial distribution of females
-Spatial distribution of other critical resources

Question 10

Explosive breeding assemblage

Answer 10

a group of species that concentrate their reproduction in a short period of time

Question 11

Polyandry

Answer 11

a pattern of mating in which a female animal has more than one male mate

Question 12

Lek-mating species (4)

Answer 12

-males display together on traditional sites = leks.
-May involve combat
-females choose mate based on displays.
-few males obtain majority of copulations.

Question 13

Costs and evolutionary trade-offs in Elephant Seals
(Harem defense polygyny)

Answer 13

-males Take risks feeding along continental shelf to seek fastest growth rewards that translates to better chance of reproduction
-females eat enough in safer areas to be able to reproduce repeatedly but dont reproduce quickly.

Question 14

reasons for Polyandry (7)

Answer 14

-Ensures female reproduction success
-Trade-up for better males
-Fitness of offspring maximized
-Sperm competition – better sperm have advantage
-Potential mates offer food
-males usually do not kill own offspring
-Very harsh environ requires more than 2 parents to rear offspring

Question 15

Sexual dimorphism’s role in determining mating system

Answer 15

-Much larger male, smaller female -> polygyny

-Larger female, smaller male or equal sizes -> monogamy or polyandry

Question 16

Bateman’s principle

Answer 16

-males experience greater variation in reproductive success vs females
-Likelihood of sexual selection increases with degree of sexual dimorphism

Question 17

Sexual Selection

Answer 17

a mechanism of evolution that occurs when organisms compete for access to mates or to fertilize their gametes

Question 18

intersexual selection

Answer 18

Often, females selects males

Question 19

Intrasexual selection

Answer 19

males compete directly for females

Question 20

Balance hypothesis

Answer 20

male traits exaggerated by female choice until overall fitness cost too high

Question 21

“Truth in advertising” hypothesis

Answer 21

-Elaborate phenotypic traits of males indicate overall fitness like:
Nutritional status
Health, parasite load

Help female choose superior male, increase quality of offspring

Question 22

Fisher’s hypothesis

Answer 22

novel male characteristics reinforced by female preference

Question 23

Smith (1956) and Trivers (1972)

Answer 23

-reprodutive advantage differ by sex
-reproductive advantage for females to be choosy, males to have lots of offspring

Question 24

Zahavi’s Handicap Hypothesis

Answer 24

males have handicap
females prefer handicap
males have trait that makes up for handicap