4. Reproductive behaviours and mating systems in animals Flashcards
what are mating systems based on?
Mating systems are based on how many mates an individual has during one breeding season
polygamy
Individuals of one sex having more than one mate
monogamy
The mating of a paring of animals to the exclusion of all others
Polyandry
Occurs when one female mates with a number of males in the same breeding season
polygyny
Occurs when one male mates exclusively with a group of females
what is successful courtship behaviour a result of?
Successful courtship behaviour in birds and fish can be a result of species-specific sign stimuli and fixed action pattern responses
what do many animals have?
Many animals have mate-selection courtship rituals
what does sexual selection select for?
Sexual selection selects for characteristics that have little survival benefit for the individual, but increase their chances of mating
what do many species exhibit?
Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism as a product of sexual selection
what occurs in some species?
Reversed sexual dimorphism occurs in some species
what is female choice?
Female choice involves females assessing honest signals of the fitness of males
what happens in lekking species
In lekking species, males gather to display at a lek, where female choice occurs
what increases access to females?
Success in male-male rivalry through conflict (real or ritualised), increases access to females for mating
