BIO152H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Secondary Sex Characteristic, Mate Choice, Gamete
Document Summary
Mating behavior and mate choice play a key role in determining reproductive success: attracting mates, choosing among potential mates, competition for mates, care of offspring. Where did sexual ornamentation originate from: conspicuous ornaments important to attract females. Conspicuous behaviours: males display their beauty and attract females and in doing so, also attract predators. Conspicuous armaments: used in male competition with one another, used in a non-random process with one another. Why: they can be costly a lot of energy goes into producing these secondary sexual characteristics. What is sexual selection: a form of natural selection where individuals with certain inherited traits are more successful at attracting mates and breeding than other individuals in a population. Sexual selection can result in sexual dimorphism different appearances. Mating systems and sexual dimorphism: monogamous; one male mates with one female (males and females look alike. Care of young by both parents enhances the survival of offspring.
