Sexual conflict and Sexual Selection Flashcards
What is anisogamous sexual reproduction?
(normal)
Sexual reproduction that involves the fusion of two gametes, which differ in size and/or form.
What is parental investment?
The effort put into rearing an individual offspring
What is parental effort? (PE)
The effort put into rearing all offspring produced during lifetime.
What is sexual conflict?
Differential PE leads to different ideal strategies to maximise reproductive success
What is sexual selection?
Natural selection arising through preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the other sex.
What is intrasexual selection?
When members of the same sex (within a species) compete with each other in order to gain opportunities to mate
What is intersexual selection?
When members of one biological sex select mates of the other sex to mate with
Name an example of intrasexual selection
Red deer stags
Name 2 examples of intersexual selection
Hanging flies
Widow bird
What is monogamy?
M and F form exclusive pair bond
What is polygyny?
M mates with several Fs
What is polyandry?
F mates with several Ms
What is polygamy?
Polygyny + polyandry
What can intrasexual selection lead to?
Sexual dimorphism
What can intersexual selection lead to?
Development of elaborate adornments and courtship displays and rituals
What are two theories into the development of elaborate adornments?
- Starts as genetic advantage ‘runaway process’
2. Handicap hypothesis, only healthy animals will show fully developed secondary sexual characteristics
