Sex and Behaviour

Question 1

In sexual reproduction who makes greater investment?

Answer 1

The female.

Question 2

What is the product of great parental investment.

Answer 2

Increased likelihood of survival.

Question 3

In a stable environment, do organisms produce more or less and expensive or cheap young?

Answer 3

Less and expensive.

Question 4

Which classification of species have high levels of parental investment?

Answer 4

K-selected.

Question 5

Which classification of species have low levels of parental investment?

Answer 5

r-selected.

Question 6

What are the two exceptions to the classification of r-selected and K-selected.

Answer 6

Sea turtles and trees.

Question 7

In external fertilisation, why may only a few offspring survive?

Answer 7

1. Embryos are exposed to predation.
2. There is little to no parental care and protection.

Question 8

What increases the chances of the sperm and egg meeting?

Answer 8

Courtship behvaiour.

Question 9

Why is the rate of survival higher in internal fertilisation?

Answer 9

1. Embryo is protected.
2. The degree of parental care and protection is higher.

Question 10

What are the two costs of internal fertilisation.

Answer 10

1. Requires energy expenditure to find a mate.
2. Difficulty of the direct transfer of gametes from one partner to another.

Question 11

What are mating systems based off.

Answer 11

How many mates an individual has.

Question 12

What are the four mating systems?

Answer 12

Polygamy - An individual of one sex having one or more mates.

2. Monogamy - mating of a pair of animals to the exclusion of all others.

3 - Polygyny - One male mates with a number of females in the same breeding season.

4 - Polyandry - A single female mates with a group of males in the same breeding season.

Question 13

Describe a courtship behaviour,

Answer 13

A behaviour that leads to breeding success.

Question 14

What causes a fixed action pattern response?

Answer 14

Species specific sign stimuli.

Question 15

What does flamboyant plummage imply.

Answer 15

1. Low parasite burden
2. High levels of fitness

Question 16

Describe reverse sexual dimporphism.

Answer 16

Occurs in the same species, when females adopt male-like roles and behaviour and are often more conspicuous.

Question 17

What do honest signals indicate?

Answer 17

1. Favourable alleles that increase fitness and therefore the chances of offspring
2. A low parasite burden suggesting a healthy individual.

Question 18

Describe the process of a lek.

Answer 18

Dominant males display at the centre of the lek, while juveniles and subordinate males remain at the fringe, known as satellite males. Females choose among those displaying in the lek.