Unit 2 - Topic 4 - Sex and Behaviour - Section B - Reproductive Behaviours and Mating systems in Animals Flashcards
What are animal mating systems based on
How many mates an individual has during one breeding season
What is monogamy
The mating of a pair of animals to the exclusion of all others.
What is polygamy
Individuals of one sex have more than one mate
What is polygyny
One male mates exclusively with a group of females
What is polyandry
One female mates with a number of males in the same breeding season
Many animals have what courtship rituals
mate-selection
What can successful courtship behaviour in birds and fish be a result of
Species-specific sign stimuli and fixed action pattern responses
What does sexual selection select for
Characteristics that have little survival benefit for the individual, but increase their chances of mating
Many species exhibit what as a product of sexual selection
Sexual dimorphism
What is sexual dimorphism
Females are generally inconspicuous; males usually have more conspicuous markings, structures and behaviours. Reversed sexual dimorphism occurs in some species
What does female choice involve
Females assessing honest signals of the fitness of males
What can honest signals indicate
Favourable alleles that increase the chances of survival of offspring (fitness) or a low parasite burden suggesting a healthy individual.
What is lekking
Males gather to display at a lek, where female choice occurs
What happens in some bird species exhibiting lekking behaviour
Dominant males occupy the centre of the lek, with subordinates and juveniles at the fringes as ‘satellite’ males. During the display, female choice occurs.
What can success in male-male rivalry result in
Success in male-male rivalry through conflict (real or ritualised), increases access to females for mating
