Week 26

Question 1

Life history

Answer 1

The major events relating to an organism’s survival, growth, development, reproduction, and longevity.

Question 2

Explain the role of limiting resources in allocating time and energy to
different life stages in order to achieve maximum fitness.

Question 3

Describe the importance of tradeoffs in the allocation of time and
energy to life history.

Question 4

Recognize the forces of natural selection that act on different life stages
for different organisms.

Question 5

Summarize the advantages of complex life cycles.

Question 6

Apply life history theory to plants using Grime’s CSR scheme.

Question 7

Difference between annuals and biennials

Answer 7

Annuals: complete their lifespan within one growing season. Semelparous.

Biennials: complete their lifespan over two growing seasons.

Question 8

Name some common tradeoffs in plants

Answer 8

Common tradeoffs:

Competition / Colonization: plants can either be good competitors for light & nutrients (acquire lots of nutrients, grow larger) OR can invest in many seeds with high dispersal and rapid growth/reproduction.

Defence / Growth: Plants can either defend against herbivory, or invest in rapid (re)growth.

Nutrient / Light Competitor: Plants can invest in roots or shoots, but not both at
the same time.

Question 9

Summarize the fundamental differences in gamete investment and parentage assurance that lead to differences in mating behaviour between males and
females.

Question 10

Define the term sexual dimorphism, and explain why some animals exhibit sexual dimorphism, while others do not

Question 11

Name each of the mating systems, and recognize examples
of each.

Question 12

Describe how mating system impacts the proportion of males and females that are reproducing in the population.

Question 13

Explain how the concept of territories can be applied both to spatial resources, and to mates, and recognize examples of each scenario.

Question 14

When does sexual conflict or sexual antagonism occur ?

Answer 14

Sexual conflict or sexual antagonism occurs when the two sexes have conflicting
optimal fitness strategies concerning reproduction. A traitor behaviour that is beneficial for the reproductive success of one sex can reduce the fitness of the other sex

Question 15

explain difference between r and k selection

Answer 15

**r = “reproductive” organisms
**◦ Short-lived
◦ Few reproductive events
◦ Many offspring
◦ Low parental care

**k = “carrying capacity” organisms
**◦ Long-lived
◦ Several reproductive events
◦ Few offspring per event
◦ High parental care