Sex and behaviour

Question 1

What is parental investment

Answer 1

Any investment by the parent in an individual offspring that increases the offsprings chance of surviving at he cost of the parents ability to invest in other off spring

Question 2

Costs of parental offspring

Answer 2

It can reduce the parents ability to invest in other areas such as their own wellbeing and survival

Question 3

Benefits of parental investment

Answer 3

Increases the probability of production and survival of young.

Question 4

Parental care of eggs vs sperm

Answer 4

The investment levels in sperm are much smaller as the emphasis is on producing larger numbers. Eggs are larger and fewer in number. There is , therefore, greater investment by females in gamete production as although they produce a lower number of gametes, these gametes are larger with a greater energy store. Means reproductive success is lower and there is a lower smaller chance of them passing in their genes.

Question 5

What is the term for production in the uterus

Answer 5

Gestation

Question 6

What does Gestation

Answer 6

Placental mammals the developing young are carried inside the females body in uterus, providing protection and nutrients.

Question 7

Many birds will use their body heat to incubate the egg.

Answer 7

This investment involves energy costs for the parents but increases survival chnacs of offspring.

Question 8

There is greater parental investment by ______.

Answer 8

Females

Question 9

R-selected species (rabbits)

Answer 9

Smaller
Shorter generation time
Mature more rapidly
Reproduce earlier in their lifetime, often once
Produce a larger amount of smaller offspring
Offspring receive only a smaller energy input
Limited parental investment
Most offspring will not reach adulthood.

Question 10

K-selection species (humans)

Answer 10

Larger
Live longer
Mature more slowly
Can reproduce many times in their lifetime 
Produce relatively few larger offspring 
High level of paternal care
Offspring have high chance of survial

Question 11

Different environments for R-selected and K-selected species

Answer 11

R-selected tends to occur in unstable environments where the species has not reached its reproductive capacity, whereas k-selected tends to occur in stable environments.

Question 12

External fertilisation

Answer 12

Usually involves large numbers of eggs and sperms being released in to water

Question 13

Benefits of external fertilisation

Answer 13

Very large numbers of offspring can be produced

Question 14

Costs of external fertilisation

Answer 14

Many gametes are predated or not fertilised, there is no or limited parental investment given to offspring and few offspring survive.

Question 15

Internal fertilisation

Answer 15

The process where the sperm nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus inside the body of the female.

Question 16

Benefits of internal fertilisation

Answer 16

There is an increased chance of fertilisation, fewer eggs are needed, offspring can be retained internally for protection and development and there is higher offspring survival rate.

Question 17

Costs of internal fertilisation

Answer 17

A mate must be located which requires energy expenditure and it requires direct transfer of gametes for one partner to another