Study Questions for Mating Systems and Parental Care

1. What is a Lek? What is the central paradox of the Lek?

2. What are the ecological factors that promote sexual selection for elaborate female traits? What are the ecological factors that promote sexual selection for elaborate male traits? What factors favor monogamy? Also see lecture material on sticklebacks, pipefish and seahorses.

3. Apply the marginal value theorem to the problem faced by a male bird that is faced with the "decision" of mongamy versus polygyny. Note: requires the integration of two lectures of material.

4. Consider a female bird making a choice of whether to settle with an unoccupied male and enter a monogamous relationship or settle with a male that already has a mate and enter into a polygynous relationship. Which male is likely to have the best territory? Consider a lot of females making such choices concerning territory quality. In what way will the population of females and the choices that they make lead to a process similar to the ideal free distribution. Note: requires the integration of two lectures of material.

5. Why should a female produce male offspring if she could produce an identical copy of herself by clonal reproduction?

6. Why is a female who is interested in a male as a caregiver (e.g., parent) still be interested in whether a male has a large ornament (explain using reference to pied flycatchers).