mating systems

Question 1

what is a mating system

Answer 1

any pattern of male-female pairings

describes how male and female interactions are built around choosing mates

Question 2

females invest heavily in each of a:
where as males invest little in each of a:

Answer 2

small number of gametes
large number of gametes

Question 3

males produce

Answer 3

large number of small motile sperm

Question 4

females produce

Answer 4

small number of eggs w large investment in each; leads to mate choice

Question 5

natural selection favoured small and fast motile gametes; to balance this:

Answer 5

large nutrient rich gametes gives rise to large, well developed offspring

Question 6

protandrous

Answer 6

males early in development, females later, like clownfish

Question 7

protogynous (gyn first)

Answer 7

females when smaller, then males when larger

Question 8

sex carries a high evolutionary cost:

Answer 8

cost of meiosis (splitting the genome up)

Question 9

sexual reproduction ____ genes are passed on, asexual reproduction ____ genes passed on

Answer 9

half, all

Question 10

intersexual selection (between different sexes)

Answer 10

effects that mating preferences of one sex have on the characteristics of the other ex mate attraction and mate choice

Question 11

intrasexual selection (within same sex)

Answer 11

effects of competition within one sex for mates, ex combats, displays

Question 12

any trait preferred by females will be

Answer 12

strongly favoured

Question 13

females should make their choices among males based on the likelihood that mating w the chosen male will

Answer 13

enhance the survival of the female’s offspring; good genes passed on

Question 14

bad boy phenomenon

Answer 14

male attractiveness rather than gene quality is the currency –> explanation: sexy sons more likely to get matings BUT bad boys don’t make good dads

Question 15

what factors go into mate choice (10)

Answer 15

• species identification
• good genes
• inbreeding avoidance
• optimal outbreeding
• resources
• symmetry
• immuno- competence
• immuno- complementarity
• quality as a parent
• sexy son

Question 16

runway inter-sexual selection

Answer 16

can result in features being overly emphasized to the point they impede on survival

Question 17

costly signals provide

Answer 17

info on the mate; honest info on males quality, male cannot pretend ex deep voice or big horns

Question 18

index hypothesis

Answer 18

dishonest signals cannot be faked

Question 19

handicap principle

Answer 19

dishonest signals too costly to fake

Question 20

dishonest signals

Answer 20

false representation of an animal’s genotype or of its resources, includes misrepresentation of mate quality in mate choice or females two timing males

Question 21

courtship is

Answer 21

an exchange of info between male and female

Question 22

courtship should

Answer 22

• include signals that allow makes and females to ensure they are mating w animal of same species
• include info that would prevent inbreeding
• give animal opportunity to present info about their quality as a potential mate

Question 23

monogamy

Answer 23

one male mates exclusively w one female

Question 24

polygamy

Answer 24

individuals mate w more than one parter

Question 25

2 types of polygamy

Answer 25

- polygyny; males mate w more than one female - polyandry; females mate w more than one male

Question 26

promiscuity

Answer 26

males mate w more than 1 female and vice versa

Question 27

cat mating system

Answer 27

- toms not involved in parental care - compete of oestrous female - copulation favours ovulation - females receptive shortly after copulation - infanticide can occur

Question 28

dog mating system

Answer 28

- pair bonded male and female head the pack - males contribute to parental care - oestrous females attract males and may mate w more than one - possible mate guarding; stuck together during mating

Question 29

what hormones in females are linked to receptivity; postural behaviours and displaying etc

Answer 29

LH and FSH

Question 30

what is the hormone of pregnancy and sexual receptivity and will inhibit sexual behaviour if pregnant

Answer 30

progesterone

Question 31

what hormone in males increase during maturity and remain constant

Answer 31

testosterone

Question 32

what 2 hormones prime some animals to pair bond

Answer 32

oxytocin and vasopressin

Question 33

testosterone causes

Answer 33

territoriality, fighting, roaming, muscle development, dominance

Question 34

____ and ____ combine to make social system

Answer 34

social organization and mating system