mating behaviour

• What does a mating system describe in animals?

  How animal societies structure sexual reproduction
• What influences the type of mating system that evolves?

  Parental care and resource availability
• What is monogamy in animal mating systems?

  One male and one female form an exclusive bond
• What is a key advantage of monogamy?

  Stable parental care from both parents
• What is a disadvantage of monogamy?

  Limited genetic diversity in offspring
• What defines polygamy in animal mating systems?

  One individual mates with multiple partners
• What is polygyny?

  One male mates with multiple females
• What is polyandry?

  One female mates with multiple males
• What is promiscuity in mating systems?

  Mating occurs without long-term bonds
• What is a key characteristic of promiscuity?

  Minimal parental care after mating
• What is courtship in animal behavior?

  Behaviors used to attract a mate
• What is one purpose of courtship?

  To help identify suitable mates
• How do visual displays function in courtship?

  They attract attention using bright colors
• What is a disadvantage of courtship behaviors?

  They can be energy-intensive
• What is the mating system of Leo the Lion?

  Polygyny
• What does Leo the Lion value in a mate?

  Strength, loyalty, and independence
• How does Leo the Lion ensure his legacy?

  By mating with multiple lionesses
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of monogamy?

  Advantages:

  • Stable parental care
  • Increased survival rates

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Limited genetic diversity
  • Dependency on mate
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of polygamy?

  Advantages:

  • Increases genetic diversity
  • Maximizes reproductive success

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Competition for mates
  • Infanticide in polygyny
• What are the types of courtship behaviors?

  1. Visual displays
  2. Auditory signals
  3. Chemical signals
  4. Resource provisioning
  5. Tactile behaviors
• What are the key characteristics of promiscuity?

  • Brief interactions
  • Lack of parental investment
  • High reproductive output
• What are the purposes of courtship behaviors?

  • Mate attraction
  • Mate assessment
  • Species recognition
  • Bond formation
• Monogamy

  • A mating system where an individual has only one mate at a time, either for a breeding season or for life.
  • Example: Swans (e.g., Mute swans) are known for forming long-term monogamous bonds.
• Polygamy

  • A broad term that includes any mating system where an individual has multiple mates. It includes polygyny, polyandry, and polygynandry.
  • Example: Lions (Panthera leo) exhibit polygamous behavior, with dominant males mating with multiple females.
• Polygyny

  • A mating system where one male mates with multiple females.
  • Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
  • dominant stags mate with multiple hinds during the breeding season.
• Polyandry

  • A mating system where one female mates with multiple males.
  • Example: Spotted sandpipers (Actitis macularius)
  • females mate with several males, each of whom incubates a clutch of eggs.
• Polygynandry

  • A system where multiple males and multiple females form breeding groups and mate with each other.
  • Example: Dunnocks (Prunella modularis)
  • both males and females may have multiple mates within a social group.
• Promiscuity

  • A mating system where individuals mate with multiple partners without forming long-term bonds.
  • Example: Bonobos (Pan paniscus)
  • “ engage in frequent mating with multiple partners as part of their social structure.