Reproductive Behaviours And Mating System In Animals

Question 1

What are mating systems based on?

Answer 1

How many mates an individual has during one breeding season. These range from polygamy (polygyny and polyandry) to monogamy

Question 2

What is the definition of monogamy?

Answer 2

The mating of a pair of animals to the exclusion of all others

Question 3

What is the definition of polygamy?

Answer 3

Individuals of one sex have more than one mate

Question 4

What is the definition of polygyny?

Answer 4

Occurs when one male mates exclusively with a group of females

Question 5

What is the definition of polyandry?

Answer 5

Occurs when one female mates with a number of males in the same breeding season.

Question 6

What rituals do many mammals have

Answer 6

Mate-selection courtship rituals

Question 7

What is the definition of courtship ritual

Answer 7

A set of display behaviours in which an animal, usually a male, attempts to attract a mate

Question 8

What can be a result of successful courtship behaviour in birds and fish?

Answer 8

species-species sign stimuli and fixed action pattern responses

Question 9

What does sexual selection selects for characteristics that have little survival benefit for the individual increase?

Answer 9

Their chances of mating

Question 10

What is the definition of sexual dimorphism?

Answer 10

Physical difference between males and females of a species

Question 11

Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism as a product of what?

Answer 11

Sexual selection

Question 12

Are males and females inconspicuous or conspicuous?

Answer 12

females are generally inconspicuous and males usually have more conspicuous markings, structures and behaviours

Question 13

What kind of sexual dimorphism can occur in some species such as vultures?

Answer 13

Reversed sexual dimorphism

Question 14

What does female choice involve females assessing?

Answer 14

Honest signals of the fitness of males

Question 15

What is the definition of honest signals?

Answer 15

Signals and behaviour in animals that are a true representation of their biological fitness

Question 16

What can honest signals indicate?

Answer 16

They indicate favourable alleles that increase the chances of survival of offspring (fitness) or a low parasite burden suggesting a healthy individual

Question 17

What is the definition of lekking?

Answer 17

During a lek males will display for females in a communal display area then females will choose a mate

Question 18

In lekking species what do males do?

Answer 18

Males gather to display at a lek, where female choice occurs

Question 19

How do some bird species exhibit lekking behaviour?

Answer 19

The dominant males occupy the centre of the lek with subordinates and juveniles at the fringes as ‘satellite’ males. During the display female choice occurs

Question 20

What does the success in male-male rivalry through conflict (real or ritualised) increase?

Answer 20

It increases the access to females for mating

Question 21

Why will males fight?

Answer 21

They will fight for dominance and access to females, often using elaborate ‘weapons’ such as antlers, tusks and horns