week 5

Question 1

Heritability

Answer 1

how much a trait’s variation in a population is due to genetics instead of the environment

Question 2

Heritability Forumula

Answer 2

H² = Vg / (Vg + Ve + Vgxe)

Question 3

Multiplier Effect

Answer 3

When genetically similar individuals seek out or create similar environments

Question 4

Lewontin Thought Experiment:

Answer 4

Shows that genes alone don’t explain differences. If identical seeds grow in rich vs. poor soil, plants in rich soil grow taller. But within each soil, height differences are still partly genetic. This shows how genes and environment interact.

Question 5

Life History Theory

Answer 5

The study of how organisms allocate energy to growth, survival, and reproduction over their lifetime, shaped by evolution to maximize fitness.

Question 6

Life history trade-offs

Answer 6

The idea that organisms must balance different needs (like growth, reproduction, and survival) because they have limited resources (e.g., energy). Choosing one path often means sacrificing another.

Question 7

Phenotypic Plasticity

Answer 7

The ability of an organism to change its appearance or behavior in response to different environmental conditions.

Question 8

reaction norm

Answer 8

The range of possible phenotypic expressions (like physical traits or behaviors) an organism can have in response to different environmental conditions

Question 9

Heredity Effect

Answer 9

The influence of genetics on an organism’s traits or behaviors

Question 10

Environmental Effects

Answer 10

The influence of an organism’s environment on its traits or behaviors

Question 11

Ornament

Answer 11

a characteristic of an animal that appears to serve a decorative function rather than a utilitarian function

Question 12

Courtship Displays

Answer 12

behaviours aimed to facilitate attraction and mating with the opposite sex

Question 13

Runaway Selection

Answer 13

when a trait becomes more extreme over time just because mates prefer it. Even if the trait isn’t helpful for survival, it keeps getting passed down because it attracts mates.

Question 14

Handicap Principle

Answer 14

A theory that suggests costly or exaggerated traits in animals (like the peacock’s large tail) signal strength or fitness because only the healthiest individuals can afford to carry such burdensome traits without dying from them.

Question 15

Anisogamy

Answer 15

The condition where males and females produce different sized gametes (sperm and egg). Males produce small, mobile sperm, and females produce larger, resource-rich eggs.

Question 16

Parental Investment Theory

Answer 16

Predicts that the sex that invests more in its offspring will be more selective when choosing a mate, and the less-investing sex will have intra-sexual competition for access to mates

Question 17

Monogamy

Answer 17

One mate for life

Question 18

Monandry

Answer 18

Female has only 1 husband

Question 19

Monogyny

Answer 19

Having 1 wife

Question 20

Polygamy

Answer 20

One person has multiple mates

Question 21

Polygyny

Answer 21

a man has more than one wife.

Question 22

Polyandry

Answer 22

woman has more than one husband

Question 23

Polygynandry

Answer 23

mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season

Question 24

Sex Difference

Answer 24

Differences in the size or scale of the same trait between males and females, such as males being taller than females, but both having the same body structure.

Question 25

Sexual Dimorphism

Answer 25

Differences in physical traits between males and females of the same species, such as antlers in males but not females

Question 26

Ecological Sexual Dimorphism

Answer 26

Males and females differ due to different ecology

Question 27

Primary sexual dimorphism

Answer 27

Differences between males and females directly related to reproduction, such as different reproductive organs (e.g., male and female genitalia).

Question 28

Secondary sexual dimorphism

Answer 28

Differences between males and females that are not directly involved in reproduction but help with mating, such as body size, color, or ornaments like antlers.

Question 29

Types of Polygyny: Female Defence

Answer 29

A male defends a group of females and mates with them

Question 30

Types of Polygyny: Resource Defence

Answer 30

A male controls a resource (like food or territory) that attracts females, so he mates with them

Question 31

Types of Polygyny: Scramble Polygyny

Answer 31

Males compete to find a mate with as many females as possible, but don't defend them or resources

Question 32

Types of Polygyny: Lek polygyny

Answer 32

Males gather in one spot (a lek) to display and attract females, who choose their mate

Question 33

Concealed Ovulation

Answer 33

Concealed ovulation is when a female is fertile but doesn't show any obvious signs of ovulation.

Question 34

Theories for Concealed Ovulation: Mate Guarding

Answer 34

Uncertainty about when a female is ovulating encourages males to stay with her to ensure paternity, promoting monogamous bonding.

Question 35

Theories for Concealed Ovulation: Paternity Uncertainty

Answer 35

Induce confusion of paternity to avoid infanticide

Question 36

Reproductive Potential

Answer 36

The maximum number of offspring an individual can produce under ideal conditions.