Mating Systems and Sexual Selection

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Questions and Answers

In monogamous relationships, what characterizes the mating system?

One female mates with multiple males

One male mates with one female (correct)

Multiple males mate with multiple females

One male mates with multiple females

Which mating system involves one male mating with many females?

Polyandry

Promiscuity

Polygyny (correct)

Monogamy

In polyandrous species, which gender is typically more showy?

Males

Females (correct)

Both genders

Neither gender

What is the influence of the certainty of paternity on parental behavior?

It influences both parental care and mating behavior Signup and view all the answers

What factor often constrains the evolution of mating systems according to the provided information?

The needs of the young Signup and view all the answers

What is true about parental care in species that produce many offspring?

Males can be equally likely to provide parental care Signup and view all the answers

In intersexual selection, what do members of one sex do?

Choose mates based on specific traits Signup and view all the answers

What is a cognitive map?

An internal representation of spatial relationships Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of intrasexual selection?

Males competing against each other for access to females Signup and view all the answers

What does classical conditioning involve?

Linking an arbitrary stimulus with a reward or punishment Signup and view all the answers

Which type of learning involves animals associating one of their behaviors with a consequence?

Operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is cognition in animals primarily related to?

The processing and use of sensory information Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about associative learning is correct?

It involves direct experience of rewards and punishments Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the digger wasps' experiment, what was concluded?

Digger wasps use landmarks to keep track of their nests. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant conditioning best described as?

Learning to associate a behavior with a specific consequence. Signup and view all the answers

What can cognitive maps help animals do?

Navigate using internal representations. Signup and view all the answers

How does the diet during larval development influence mate choice in Drosophila mojavensis?

It influences later mate choice in females. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary objective of William Etges’ experiment with Drosophila mojavensis?

To determine the effect of diet on mate choice behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What mating trend was observed in Sonoran females raised on artificial medium?

They preferred Sonoran males over Baja males. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the mating preferences of Sonoran females raised on cactus medium?

They mated with both Baja and Sonoran males equally. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the experimental setup is true?

The larvae were raised on three different culture media. Signup and view all the answers

What coloration do female guppies prefer in male guppies?

More orange coloration Signup and view all the answers

What behavior do vervet monkeys exhibit in relation to alarm calls?

Infants give undiscriminating alarm calls at first Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the presence of another female have on female guppies' preferences?

They prefer less orange males associated with another female Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method by which infant vervet monkeys learn to adjust their alarm calls?

Through observation of adult monkeys Signup and view all the answers

In the experimental sample, who engages in courtship with less orange male guppies?

Female models Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is typical of alarm calls in vervet monkeys?

They vary in complexity depending on the situation Signup and view all the answers

What does the preference of female guppies for male coloration suggest about their mating behavior?

Coloration signals health and vitality Signup and view all the answers

How does the context of female guppies change their preference for male coloration?

Preference can shift based on the presence of other females Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of kin selection and altruism in animals?

Warning behavior in Belding’s ground squirrels Signup and view all the answers

What defines reciprocal altruism?

Altruism that is beneficial when the favor is returned Signup and view all the answers

How can culture be defined in the context of social learning?

A system of information transfer through observation or teaching Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior describes mate choice copying?

Copying the mate choices of others in a population Signup and view all the answers

What is typically a characteristic of altruistic behavior?

It may lead to survival benefits for the species. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mating Systems

Monogamous relationships involve one male mating with one female.
Polygyny is when one male mates with multiple females.
Polyandry is when one female mates with multiple males

Parental Care

The needs of offspring are a key factor in the evolution of mating systems.
The certainty of paternity can affect parental care, as well as mating behavior.
In species with large offspring, parental care is more likely to be shared between males and females.

Sexual Selection

In intersexual selection, members of one sex select mates based on certain characteristics.
In Intrasexual selection, members of the same sex compete for mates.

Mate Choice by Females

Male zebra finches are often more ornate than females, which might influence female mate choice.

Environmental Influences

The type of food eaten during larval development can influence mate choice in females.

Animal Cognition

A cognitive map is an internal representation of spatial relationships in an animal's environment.

Associative Learning

Associative learning occurs when animals associate one feature with another in their environments.
Classical conditioning is a type of associative learning in which a stimulus is associated with a reward or punishment.
Operant conditioning is a type of associative learning in which a behavior is associated with a reward or punishment.

Cognition and Problem Solving

Cognition involves the ability to perceive, store, process and use information gathered through sensory receptors.

Altruism

Kin selection is a type of altruistic behavior that benefits relatives.
Reciprocal altruism is a type of altruistic behavior towards unrelated individuals, which can be adaptive if a reciprocal favor is likely in the future.

Social learning is the basis for cultural development.
Culture is defined as a system of information transfer, through observation or teaching, that influences behavior in a population.

Mate Choice Copying

Mate choice copying occurs when individuals copy the mate choices of others.
This behavior has been studied in the guppy, where females prefer males with certain characteristics.

Vervet monkeys produce a complex set of alarm calls.
Infant verver monkeys learn to fine-tune their alarm calls over time.

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Description

Explore the various mating systems including monogamy, polygyny, and polyandry. Understand how parental care, sexual selection, and environmental influences impact mate choice in animals. This quiz dives into the cognitive aspects of mating behavior, particularly in species like zebra finches.