sexual selection and mate choice

Question 1

sexual selection hypothesis

Answer 1

DARWIN:
traits might evolve if they are sexually selected, that is if they increase the individual’s reproductive success, even at the expense of their survival

Question 2

what does sexual selection depend on

Answer 2

struggle between male + female

Question 3

types of sexyal selection competition

Answer 3

intersexual

intrasexual

Question 4

intrasexual competition

Answer 4

competition between members of the same sex (usually males) for access to mates

Question 5

intersexual competition

Answer 5

where members of one sex (usually females) choose members of the opposite sex.

Question 6

Bateman-Trivers Theory

Answer 6

female reproduction is primarily limited by their access to resources to nourish and produce these large gametes, whereas male reproduction is mainly limited by access to females
—> members that invest more into babies; are themselves a limited resource= so females are picky and males want females

Question 7

mechanisms of sexual selection

Answer 7

1. sperm competition

2. cryptic female choice

Question 8

types of male competition

Answer 8

endurance 
scramble competition
contest competition 
reproductive suprression
sperm competition 
alternative mate tactics

Question 9

stages of mate choice

Answer 9

1. behvaviour
2. cryptic choice of sperm
3. game selection

Question 10

when are males choosy?

Answer 10

lots of females available (and varying quality)
long term residency
resource allocation
monogamous system

Question 11

what is the cluton brock and vincent idea

Answer 11

difference in POTENTIAL reproductive roles of MM and FF= predict variation in STRENGTH of sexual selection

Question 12

fertilization-insurance hypothesis

Answer 12

females copulate iwth multipel males to be mores uccesful

Question 13

why is it weird that females would want to have sex with a lot of guys

Answer 13

1. because it would not increase the NUMBER of offspring

2. its COSTLY to mate with a lot of guys= hence are choosy

Question 14

why WOULD females want to have sex

Answer 14

fertliization insurance hypothesis

‘girls just wanna have fun’ hypothesis

Question 15

theories of mate choice

Answer 15

explain why females are choosy

Question 16

what are the direct benefits of mate choice

Answer 16

choosy sex gets resources

I.e. ferliziation, sex for food/proteection and parental investment

Question 17

what are indirect benefits of mate choice

Answer 17

choosy sex gets only GENES

Question 18

theoris of indirect benefits of choosy mate choice

Answer 18

1. fisherian runaway
2. genetic indicators of good genes (handicape principle and host parasite coevulition)
3. heterozygozity hypothesis
4. genetic compatibility hypothesis

Question 19

what is the non adaptive hypothesis (and the 2 theories)

Answer 19

choosy sex gets NOTHING

1. either sensory bias (trait selected due to pre-existing bias in species)
2. chase away hypothesis (exaggerated traits chosen to OVERCOME female bias/increase variation)

Question 20

fisherian runaway selection

Answer 20

sexual selection mechanism to account for the evolution of exaggerated male ornamentation (such as a peacock’s plumage) by persistent, directional female choice

Question 21

good genes hypothesis

Answer 21

traits females choose when selecting a mate are honest indicators of the male’s ability to pass on genes that will increase the survival or reproductive success of her offspring. (AVOID INFERIOR GENES)

hence

1. handicap principle ( costly traits= male strong quality)
2. host parsite; traits selected for parasite resistance)

Question 22

heterozygoity hypothesis

Answer 22

dissailimar traits are selected for to avoid inbreeding and increase variation

Question 23

genetic compability hypothesisi

Answer 23

avoid ‘bad sperm’ to assert genetic advatange

Question 24

non adaptive hypothesis?

Answer 24

no ‘evolutionary sense’; just random
(i.e. just for aesthethic reasons or biases)

1. sensory bias hypothesisis
2. chase-away hypothesis

Question 25

PROSTITUTE HYPOTHESIS

Answer 25

females have sex for food

Question 26

just wanna have fun theory

Answer 26

sexual pleasure= motivates fertilization