A-level Biology: Courtship

behaviour
Learning objectives

💡 To understand that courtship behaviour is a necessary precursor to

successful mating.

💡 To understand the role of courtship in species recognition.

Starter: Recall the definition of a species.

Write down the taxonomic groups that
make up the classification system.

What is courtship behaviour?

Sequence of actions carried out by an organism to attract a mate of the
same species and the opposite sex

Usually carried out by the males to impress the females

Key point: Every species has a unique courtship ritual

Therefore, courtship behaviour allows animals to identify members of their

own species

The more similar a courtship sequence is between two different species,

the more closely related they are.

How would different organisms display

courtship behaviour?
Pheromones – releasing chemical signals e.g. male bumble bee

A-level Biology: Courtship behaviour 1

 Sound – e.g. male red deer roars to attract female

Visual displays – e.g. male peacocks display tail features

Dancing

Building shelters/nests

E.g. Fireflies – give of pulses of light. Pattern of flashes is specific to each

species

E.g. Crickets – sounds similar to Morse code, code is different for different
species

The importance of courtship behaviour

Allows recognition of members of the same species because courtship
behaviour is species
specific

Production of fertile offspring

Indication of sexual maturity

Recognition/attraction of opposite sex

Prevents interbreeding

Stimulate release of gametes

Establishes a pair bond to raise young

Synchronise mating → maximum probability that sperm will fertilise ovum

Effect of mutations on courtship

behaviour.
Courtship behaviours are determined by genes found that are specific to
each species

If the mutation causes the individual to perform the courtship ritual

differently, then they may not be able to attract a mate and reproduce
successfully.

If many of the species in a population acquire mutations that affect

courtship then it could affect the whole species survival as fewer

A-level Biology: Courtship behaviour 2

 individuals are reproducing successfully.

Test your understanding

What is courtship behaviour?

How would different organisms display courtship behaviour?

What is the importance of courtship behaviour?

What is the effect of mutations on courtship behaviour?

What does courtship behaviour show us about the relations of different

species?

A-level Biology: Courtship behaviour 3