Module 6

Question 1

Body of theory that examines

Answer 1

• How different life cycles evolved via natural selection and sexual selection
• How variation in life events affect fitness

Question 2

First concerned with the Timing of events in the life course that will affect fitness

Answer 2

• sexual maturity
• Marriage
• Births of offspring
• End of reproduction
• Death

Question 3

Principles of allocation

Answer 3

• states that energy used for on function cannot be used for another
• Energy has to be spend to produce an outcome
• Growth
• Maintenance
• Reproduction

Question 4

Growth

Answer 4

• body growth
• Brain growth
• Learning
• Reproductive maturation

Question 5

Reproduction

Answer 5

• Mating
• Competition
• Pregnancy
• Lactation
• Parental care

Question 6

Maintenance

Answer 6

• Immune function
• Stress responses
• Cellular repair
• Antioxidant
• Vigilance

Question 7

Allocation tradeoffs

Answer 7

• orgasms usually finish growing up before they begin reproducing
• species with complicated digestive systems tend to have small brains and vice versa
• sick and undernourished induviduls are often less fertile

Question 8

Principle of Allocation

Answer 8

• It is important to remember that, for every unit of time that passes, there is less and less chance of being alive.
• Thus, time , in addition to energy is limiting resource for life history decisions

Question 9

Life history tradeoffs

Answer 9

• Offspring quality versus quantity
• Current versus future reproduction
• Mating effort versus parenting effort

Question 10

Offspring quality versus quantity

Answer 10

• Parental investment (resources, time) is limited
• When higher fertility yields higher potential RS, id reduces the an=mount of investment available for each offspring
• Affects survival/success of offspring

Question 11

Current versus future reproduction

Answer 11

• Reproduce now of reproduce later? Are conditions now favarable to success? Or is it better to wait and not squanerd resources?
• Invest in existing offspring or now offspring? When do you stop (or reduce) investing in one offspring and start investing in another?

Question 12

Inerbirth intervsl

Answer 12

• time between successive births
• if offspring are born very far a part, the mother’s total fertility will be low
• If offspring are born too close together, the compete for resources
  ~ for humans about 24-35 months after the first child and 24-35 after each child
• Average birth intervals are usually close to the optimal balance of speedy reproduction and offspring survival

Question 13

Mating effort versus parenting effors

Answer 13

• A tradeoff for males
• Time and energy spent to try to attract and compete for new mates cannot be spent on caring for existing offspring
• A male who spends all his efforts to gain new mates will possibly conceive many offspring
• But, a male who invests in a parenting may have more that survive
• Male investment is often related to need,. Males are most likely to invest when it does the most good Or When it is unlikely they can find other mates.

Question 14

Optimal balance of these trade offs differs

Answer 14

• Between species
• Between individual
• Within individuals at different times of their lives

Question 15

Optimal balance of these trade offs differs

Answer 15

• Between species
• Between individual
• Within individuals at different times of their lives

Question 16

Fast life history strategies emphasize producing many offspring very quickly

Answer 16

- low investment in growth
~ Smaller body size and brains
~ Early maturation
- low investment in maintenance
~ Short lifespan
- Prioritize current reproduction and offspring quantity
~ Fast reproduction rates
~ Large litters
~ Small offspring
~ low investment per offspring

Question 17

Slow life history strategies emphasize investment in growth and survival

Answer 17

- high investment in growth
~ Larger body size and brain
~ Late maturation
- High investment in maintenance
~ Long lifespan
- Investment in offspring quality
~ Slow reproductive rate
~ Small litters
~ Large offspring
~ Large investment per offspring

Question 18

Two life history traits are critical in driving the rest

Answer 18

• Body size

- Extrinsic mortality

Question 19

What are the advantages of being a large anaimla?

Answer 19

• Fewer animals can prey on you
• You can access more different foods
• Large digestive systems
• Can also produce larger offspring which are less vulnerable to predators
• Efficiency- larger bodies cost less per unit mass

Question 20

Why are there so many species that are small?

Answer 20

• Important niches for small species
• Can subsist on simple diets
• It takes a long time to grow up… must have a high chance to making it
• Energy spent on growth can’t be spent on reproduction

Question 21

Allometry

Answer 21

Correlations of traits to body size

Question 22

Species with high levels of extrinsic mortality

Answer 22

• cannot afford to spend a long time growing up
• Will be unlikely to live a long time
• Should overproduce offspring to ensure the survival of some

Question 23

Higher reproductive success

Answer 23

Even in species which are selected to have low reproductive rates (“slow” life history), individuals in better condition may be able to produce more offspring

Question 24

We observe in nature is a result of:

Answer 24

• Species-typical life history pattern
• Individual differences in quality
• Individual differences in strategy