Courtship behaviour

• Courtship behaviour - Carried out by organisms to attract a mate of the correct species

  • Can be performed by either the male or female or could sometimes involves both sexes
• Examples of courtship behaviour:

  • Releasing a chemical - insects release pheromones to attract males to their territory
  • Using sound - birdsong is specific to each species and calls are used to attract mates
  • Dancing - birds can perform elaborate dance routines which are judged by mates before mating can occur
• Courtship behaviour enables individuals to:

  RECOGNISE MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN SPECIES

  • To ensure that mating only takes place between members of the same species, because only members of the same species can produce fertile offspring
• Courtship behaviour enables individuals to:

  IDENTIFY A MATE THAT IS CAPABLE OF BREEDING

  • Because both partners need to be sexually mature, fertile and receptive to mating
• Courtship behaviour enables individuals to:

  FORM A PAIR BOND

  • That will lead to successful mating and raising of offspring
• Courtship behaviour enables individuals to:

  SYNCHRONISE MATING

  • So that it takes place when there is the maximum probability of the sperm and egg meeting
• Courtship behaviour: Species specific

  • Courtship behaviour is species specific so only members of the same species will be able to perform and respond to that specific behaviour
  • It allows members of the same species to recognise each other to prevent interbreeding and ensuring reproduction is successful
• Courtship behaviour can be used to classify species as the more closely related species are the more similar their courtship behaviour will be
• Courtship: Species recognition

  During courtship, animals use signals to communicate with a potential mate and with members of their own sex

  • Typically their is a chain of actions between a male and a female
  • The chain of actions is the same for all members of a species but differs for members of different species
  • In this way both individuals recognise that their partner is of the same species and that they may be prepared to mate
• Courtship behaviour: Successful mating

  • Females are often only receptive to mating for a period around the time when they produce eggs
  • Courtship behaviour is used by males to determine whether the female is at this receptive stage
  • If she responds with appropriate behavioural response, courtship continues and is likely to result in the production of offspring
• Courtship behaviour: Successful mating

  • If female responds with appropriate behavioural response, courtship continues and is likely to result in the production of offspring
  • If female is not receptive, she exhibits a different pattern of behaviour and the male ceases to court her, turning his attention elsewhere