The mating systems of many species involve defense of resources

Pairing Behaviours
• Monogamy – 1 ♂ & ♀
• Polygamy
•Food
1. Polyandry – 1 ♀ & >1 ♂ •Rearing
2. Polygyny – 1 ♂ & >1 ♀ territories
3. Polygynandry - >1 ♀ & >1 •Nest sites
♂ •Egg-laying
sites

But,
idiosyncratic
quirks of male
and female
biology in many
species also
contribute to
which mating
system is
observed
 Ecological Basis for Mating Systems
Variation in mating system behaviour (monogamy vs polygyny) can be explained in 4
ways:
-how much female reproductive success is increased by male parental assistance
-the size of female ranges
-the size and stability of female social groups, if they exist
-the density and distribution of fertile and receptive females in space and time i.e.
long breeding season or short; all females receptive at same time or variable

B. Males sometimes are selected to

anticipate which resources are important
for female reproductive success and thus
control those resources to influence female
mate choice
The monogamous honey bee drone dies after
mating
With sperm so cheap, how can monogamy be
adaptive for males? Especially, this kind?
 Mate assistance monogamy in a seahorse
Male and female seahorses have the same “effective reproductive
rate” because the male’s pouch can only hold about 1 batch of eggs
and brooding time ~ time for female to mature a new batch of eggs

Hippocampus whitei
 A monogamous mate-guarding shrimp

Female clown shrimp are few and far between

Staying and guarding one that you have is better than

leaving her alone and going to look for another.
Dual mate-enforced monogamy

Each would like to cheat but

can’t because the other
mate drives off extra-pair
suitors Parental care is at
stake for female, sperm
competition for male
Female burying beetles combat
polygyny

If she turns her

back……
Nicrophorus defodiens
 An exceptionally paternal rodent
Monogamy is rare in mammals!

Male Djungarian hamster helping to deliver pups

Male care of offspring affects fitness in the California
mouse
In this case, luvin’ and leavin’ doesn’t pay better
than
stayin’
Paternal male starlings keep their clutches warmer by helping mates incubate their eggs

Fitness benefits accrue as a result of paternal

care
Paternal care boosts reproductive success in the monogamous spotless
starling

Cyproterone acetate = CA
(Androgen antagonist)
Testosterone = T
Mate-guarding monogamy in the rock-haunting
possum

Distance between
females makes
polygyny impossible
 Female spotted sandpipers fight over
males
Polyandry – females steppin’ out!
But, males are monogamous (more or less).
Polygamy has fitness costs
Gotta love those free STI clinics! ;-)
 Polyandry has fitness
benefits
For her….
But for him, …