relationship topic 1 : sexual selection

Question 1

what is A01 for sexual selection

Answer 1

Sexual selection
An evolutionary explanation of partner preference.

Anisogamy
Refers to difference between male and female sex cells
Males gametes: extremely small, highly mobile and do not require a lot of energy to produce
Female gametes: large and require a lot of energy to produce
A consequence for anisogamy is that there are no shortage of fertile males but fertile women is “rare source”
Also gives two mating strategies : inter and intra sexual selection

What is inter-sexual selection?
When female chooses they prefer quality of quantity
Robert trivers (1972) argues females make greater investment of time, commitment and other resources during and after birth
Both sexes are choosy but females are more choosier
Because the consequence for choosing the wrong partner is much more serious for females than males.
So women pick a genetically fit partner who is able and willing to provide resources. This leaves males competing for the opportunity to mate with her.
Runway process - a female mates with male who has desirable characteristics and this trait is inherited by her son. This increases the likelihood that successive generations of females would mate with her offspring

What is intra-sexual selection
Strategy for males prefer quantity over quality
Males compete with each other to mate with a female and the winner reproduces and gets to pass on his offspring the characteristic that contributed to his victory.
This strategy has given rise to dimorphism - obvious differences between males and females. For physical competition between males. Size matters. Larger males would have advantage and are more likely to mate.
Males aim to mate with as many females as possible. This is because minimal energy is required to produce enough sperm to theoretically fertilise every woman on this earth.

Question 2

what is A03 for sexual selection

Answer 2

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