reproductive strategies

• mate recognition system

  the set of anatomical, behavioural and chemical clues that allow males and females of a species to recognise one another for the purpose of reproduction
• What is parental care?

  A behavioral strategy for offspring survival
• What is maternal behaviour?

  Behaviours by the mother to increase survival
• What is the purpose of egg sitting in maternal behaviour?

  To keep eggs warm and safe from predators
• How does suckling benefit offspring?

  It provides essential nutrients and bonding
• What role does guarding their young play in maternal behaviour?

  It protects offspring from potential threats
• Why is digging burrows significant in maternal behaviour?

  It creates a safe shelter for the young
• What is the importance of nursing in maternal behaviour?

  Nursing provides vital nourishment to young
• How does grooming contribute to maternal behaviour?

  It promotes hygiene and strengthens bonds
• How does the development of altricial species compare to precocial species?

  Altricial species are less developed at birth and cannot survive alone, there is high parental investment until they mature
• precocial animals are born with all their hair, feathers, or scales
• What abilities do precocial animals have at birth?

  They can see, hear, and move around. they can immediately care for themselves
• What is the major parental duty for precocial animals?

  • Keep young safe from predators
  • Watch over them as they eat
• mating systems

  describe how animals find and choose their partners, and how they care for their offspring
• monogamy

  when animals stay with one mate for a period of time (a breeding season, several seasons or their whole life)
• monogamous pairs split parenting duties, such as caring for offspring and finding food
• polygny

  when one male pairs with several females
• in polygny, the males have no parental role over offspring
• polyandry

  when one female pairs with many males
• in polyandry the males share the parental role
• promiscuity

  species mating with multiple partners, they dont form bonds
• promiscuity increases genetic diversity, this can lead to healthier and more resilient population