Social and reproductive behaviour

Question 1

What causes distribution in social groups for:

1. females
2. males

Answer 1

Females = food
Males = females

Question 2

Give some examples of information communicated in mouse urine

Answer 2

individual identity 
sex
reproductive status
social status
health status
genetic relatedness

Question 3

What is the flehmen response?

Answer 3

carries odour from female urine to the vomeronasal organ

Question 4

What are visual signs?

Answer 4

Morphological feature’s and behaviours - postures, position of ears/tail

Question 5

Do horses use elimination marking?

Answer 5

Yes - communicates competitive ability

Stallions counter-mark with their own urine or faeces

Question 6

Mixing unfamiliar animals can lead to…?

Answer 6

Aggression
Stress response
Hierarchy/high levels of competition

Question 7

In cattle what is dominance associated with?

Answer 7

Age

Question 8

In horses what is dominance associated with?

Answer 8

Age and size

Question 9

Are males or females usually more ready to mate?

Answer 9

Males

Question 10

Species in which males compete for females through fighting may have what characteristics?

Answer 10

• Large body size
• Horns/antlers
• Aggressive during breeding season

Question 11

What features are males selected for?

Answer 11

Large body size
Weapons - horns/antlers
Aggression

Question 12

What features are involved in sperm competition?

Answer 12

Large testes
High sperm numbers
Multiple ejaculations
Mate guarding

Question 13

What is infanticide?

Answer 13

When a male kills the offspring of another male, in order to bring the female into oestrus more quickly

Question 14

Oestrus causes an increase in what in the female?

Answer 14

Proceptivity
Receptivity
Attractiveness

Question 15

Which males do females tend to prefer?

Answer 15

Dominant
Heritable disease resistant
Avoiding inbreeding

Question 16

Young ewes have what struggles as a mother?

Answer 16

Generally less successful at bonding and accepting lamb

Less energy available for lactation if they are still growing

Question 17

What are the consequences for a lamb born late in the seasons?

Answer 17

Receive less care because food availability declines, and females are unable to maintain investment in lactation

Question 18

How does sex affect a lambs characteristics?

Answer 18

Males tend to receive more milk so have faster growth rates and higher weaning weights

Question 19

How are sows affected by being in farrowing pens?

Answer 19

• Lose less weight during lactation
• Return to oestrus sooner
• Young better prepared for weaning

Question 20

Lambs born co-twin to a female had..?

Answer 20

Higher survival chances

Higher mean daily weight gain