Question

3. Why might a behavioral ecologist say that the ecology of females has more to say about the evolution of the mating system of a species than the ecology of males? (2 marks)

a. Because receptive females are usually in short supply for males, not the other way around.

b. Because male competition for mates is relatively unimportant in the definition of animal mating systems.

c. Because females are the key for the preservation of the species; their reproduction, not that of males, determines the size of the next generation.

d. Because females are almost always widely distributed and are difficult for males in search of mates to find.

4. Behavioural ecologists view a conditional strategy as an adaptation when individuals are able to switch strategies, and (2 marks)

a. Contribute some descendants to carry their genes into the next generation.

b. Respond to changing conditions more readily than other members of their species.

c. Contribute more offspring to the subsequent generation than individuals employing any other strategy.

d. Experience a net gain in fitness from their behavioral flexibility.

5. Female birds who practice polyandry might see benefits if they obtained genes from several partners who are particularly compatible with the genes in their eggs. If the preceding sentence is a hypothesis, what prediction follows? (2 marks)

a. Typically, females in the population will mate with the same very few males.

b. The males chosen as reproductive partners will vary substantially from female to female.

c. Males of this particular species are more likely to exhibit lek polygyny.

d. Females exhibiting polyandry will obtain more material benefits from their mates than monogamous females.

Answer 1

3.The answer is a) Because receptive females are usually in short supply for males, not the other way around.

Female have a lower reproductive potential as compared to males since males sperm are cheaper and a male can mate with many females, while the females need to mate with fewer males because of fewer egg fertilizer

Option b is wrong because male-male competition for mates is the most common and important in intrasexual selection.

Option c is wrong as male and female contributions for determining the size of the next generation are almost but not quite equal.

Option d is wrong as in contrast males are very casual, and females are very choosy.

4. The answer is c. Contribute more offspring to the subsequent generation than individuals employing any other strategy.

A conditional strategy is a strategy or tactic chosen by the individual in order to make its state favored.

Whereas adaptation is the survival of the organism which is more adapted to the environment, more is the offspring more is the chance of survival.