Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of parental investment theory?
Which sex is predicted to be more selective in choosing mates according to parental investment theory?
What is the trade-off that parents face in parental investment theory?
What is the relationship between parental investment and mate choice?
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What is the primary reason for the asymmetry in parental investment between males and females?
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Who developed the concept of parental investment theory?
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Study Notes
Parental Investment Theory
- Developed by Robert Trivers in 1972 as an evolutionary biology concept to explore differences in parental investment in offspring between males and females.
Key Principles
- Asymmetry in investment exists due to differences in gamete size and physiological costs associated with reproduction between males and females.
Reproductive Strategies
- The sex with higher parental investment (often females) is more selective in choosing mates.
- The sex with lower investment (often males) competes more intensely for access to mates.
Offspring Quality vs. Quantity
- Parents face a trade-off between investing heavily in a few offspring (quality) or producing many offspring with lower investment per offspring (quantity).
- The optimal strategy depends on environmental and ecological factors.
Mate Choice
- Individuals choose mates based on traits indicating high-quality genes or resources for offspring.
- This is influenced by the unequal investment of time, energy, and resources between male and female parents.
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Description
Learn about Robert Trivers' 1972 concept that explores the differences in parental investment in offspring, influencing reproductive success. Key points include asymmetry in investment and more.
