Sexual Selection I and II Flashcards
define sexual dimorphism
- when opposite sexes differ
- example: different morphologies
when can you explain sexual dimorphism via natural selection
- when the trait/dimorphism is directly linked to the ability to survive in their environment
- other times its explained by sexual selection
define sexual selection
differential reproductive success due to variation in success at getting mates
natural vs sexual selection
- natural selection: focus on survival related traits
- sexual selection: focused on sexual related traits
natural vs sexual selection: which is directional, stabilizing, or disruptive?
- both can be all since they are context dependent
- if opposed, often results in stabilizing selection (common but not always the case)
how can sexual selection has been expanded to explain differences between males and females
- typical female: invest more in gametes bc eggs are more expensive
- typical male: really low investment in gametes bc sperm is less expensive
define female and male
- female: ability to produce eggs
- male: ability to produce sperm
define egg and sperm
- egg: larger gamete
- sperm: smaller gamete
what kind of selection led to having two sexes?
disruptive
explain how disruptive selection resulted in 2 sexes
- started with isogamy (gametes are all the same size) with their own variation
- accumulation of mutations then cause anisogamy (different sizes)
what produces asymmetric limits on reproductive success
differences in reproductive investment
explain the asymmetric limits on reproductive success - females
reproductive success will be limited by the number of eggs she can make
explain the asymmetric limits on reproductive success - male
reproductive success will be limited by the number of females he can mate with
which sex should have the greatest variation in reproductive success among individuals?
males since their success is determined by another individual
asymmetric limits on reproductive success - explain Bateman and Trivers (1948) prediction
- they predicted that sexual selection should be stronger on males than on females
- this is bc males have stronger variation and thus stronger selection
define hermaphrodites
- simultaneously having both male and female organs
- Protandrous (male -> female)
- Protogynous (female -> male)
Bateman and Trivers (1948) prediction - explain the Bateman’s gradient
- statistical relationship that measures how reproductive success is related to mating success
- has both male and female data
- x-axis: number of mates
- y-axis: number of offspring
- slope: fitness
Bateman gradient: hermaphrodite snail study - explain how sexual selection is stronger on sperm producers
- males: linear increase in fitness and more variation
- females: very little advantage with each additional mating and not a lot of variation
Bateman gradient - rough-skinned newts example
- researchers captured newts from breeding pond
- females were kept captive and induced to lay eggs
- used genetic techniques to assign reproductive success to males
Bateman gradient: rough-skinned newts example - describe gradient results
- males: not all males mate but slope increases linearly
- females: all females mate but slope is a lot flatter (not a lot of variation)