Mating Systems + Parental Care Flashcards
What is the Bateman principle?
Male reproductive success (RS) increases with the number of mates; males are interested in mating with many females. Females’ RS does not increase with the number of mates; females are interested in mating with high-quality males.
What is monogamy?
Both parents care for the young. Monogamy occurs when two parents provide better care than one parent.
Example: In small primates, social carnivores (wolves), and many altricial birds.
What are the care strategies in amphibians?
Care can be no care, male care, or female care, depending on the mode of fertilization.
What did Neff (2003) find about bluegill sunfish?
Fathers are less likely to provide care if they have seen other males in the vicinity around fertilization.
What is notable about parental care in birds?
Many species have helpless young, requiring heavy male investment. There is a tendency for pair-bonding and monogamy, though extra-pair copulations (EPCs) often occur.
What is the investment pattern in mammals regarding parental care?
There is heavy investment by females, and pair-bonding and monogamy are more rare.
What mating system do females do best in?
Females do best out of polyandry.
What mating system do females do least well in?
Females do least well out of polygyny.
What mating system do males do best in?
Males do best out of polygyny (if environmental quality is ok).
What mating system do males do least well in?
Males do least well out of polyandry.
What is polygyny?
In polygyny, some males mate with several females, whereas others remain unmated. Females mate with a single male and provide most or all care.
Polygyny occurs in many mammals and some birds.
What is polyandry?
In polyandry, a female associates with several males. Males mate with one female and provide the care. Females are larger and more aggressive, which can lead to infanticide by females.
