Mating Patterns
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Transcript of Mating Patterns
Mating Patterns
1 male & 1 female pair mate with no one else
Birds◦ 90% of species
21% of those end in “divorce” Not always death due us part http://animal.discovery.com/videos/cute-and-cuddly-
dads-trumpeter-swan-dads.html
Monogamy
Mammals◦ Less than 3% species
Some species the females prevent the males from breeding with other females within their group◦ Example- marmosets/tamarins, wolves & wild dogs
Reasons for females being the parental care◦ Lactation/feeding◦ Males gain more by leaning reproductively
Coolidge Effect◦ Ability of males to resume copulation with a new female
Copulatory lock◦ To ensure fertilization
Monogamy
“Many Males” Female mates with several males & males tends do
parental care Few bird species, few insect species, sea horses &
few human cultures◦ http://animal.discovery.com/videos/cute-and-cuddly-dads-
sea-horse-dads.html Males might incubate eggs Can raise 2 sets of young per year by both caring for
young Philopatry- females return to where they were born Females tend to have a territory
Polyandry
“Many Females” Male mates with several females & female mates with 1 male Most common method in animal kingdom 97% mammals Resource Defense Polygyny
◦ Good resources in clumped areas◦ Females need these resources◦ 60% mammals
1 female solitary with male has larger area around her to defend Female Harem Defense Polygyny
◦ Tend to aggregate because increased vigilance, mutual defense & alarms
◦ May be 1 male or couple males with lots of females ◦ Seasonal harems
Polygyny
Male Dominance Polygyny◦ Females tend to pick same male◦ Free to choose most fit male◦ Lek displays used
Scramble Competition Polygyny◦ Males search for females without much competition◦ Lots of options or very few
Unusual Polygyny◦ Releasers- stimuli the male & female exchange during
courtship◦ Example- Stickleback Fish- males breed with a bunch
of females and care for all their eggs
Polygyny
Both males & females mate several times with different individuals
No pair bonds Example- weasel family Polygynandry
◦ Combo of polygynous males & polyandrous females
Promiscuity/Polygynandry
Individual of either sex has more than 1 mate
Includes◦ Polygyny◦ Polyandry◦ Polygynandry
Polygamy