primate reproduction/social behavior

Question 1

group advantages

Answer 1

• protection from predators
• more mating options
• increased chances for socialization

Question 2

group disadvantages

Answer 2

• more food competition
• increased mating competition
• more disease transmission

Question 3

defenses against predation

Answer 3

• screaming/vocal warnings
• physically grouping together
• body size evolution
• group size (detection, deterrence, dilution)

Question 4

define “strategy”

Answer 4

referring to an evolutionary behavior that increases the physical fitness of a primates reproductive success

Question 5

female reproductive strategies

Answer 5

• offspring investment
• nutrition resources
• lactation
• very few offspring
• group size and rank

Question 6

male reproductive strategies

Answer 6

• infanticide
• coercion
• following/befriending

Question 7

why would a female conceal/reveal ovulation?

Answer 7

• conceal ovulation to confuse paternity and save reproductive energy
• reveal ovulation to increase mating success and reproduce quicker/with more mates

Question 8

reproductive trade-offs

Answer 8

• limited resources —> allocating energy to one offspring at the expense of others
• trade off between quantity/quality of offspring
• weaning —> infants become more dependent, gradually reducing nursing increases available energy for mothers

Question 9

intensity of m v. m competition

Answer 9

rare (one male)
continuous (multi male)

Question 10

types of m v. m competitions

Answer 10

• direct: physical competition (multi male)
• indirect: sperm competition (multi male)

Question 11

male alliances

Answer 11

long term relationships between groups of males often including an alpha male

Question 12

male coalitions

Answer 12

short term relationships between groups of bachelor males working towards a common goal

Question 13

monogamy/polyandry

Answer 13

very little competition and little to no sexual dimorphism

Question 14

polygyny

Answer 14

rare direct physical competition with body/canine size dimorphism

Question 15

polygynandry

Answer 15

continuous direct with body/canine size dimorphism

Question 16

flanged orangutans

Answer 16

males who are dominant, much larger and have large check pouches, indicates increased testosterone, typically only occurs when there is no other falange males present

Question 17

unflagged organtuns

Answer 17

less developed/non dominant males that are much smaller and do not have cheek pouches (less sexual dimorphism)