BIO152H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Parental Investment, Handicap Principle, Guppy
Document Summary
Usually invest more in their offspring than males do typically produce relatively fewer offspring than males fitness is limited primarily by the ability to gain resources necessary to produce/rear young. Natural tail length (n) reduced tail length (r) Mating success: elongated>natural>shortened, natural=sham (tails cut off then put back on) Swallow experiment: female barn swallows were found to prefer long=tailed mates, long-tailed males are more efficient in flight and more successful in fining food, thus have higher fitness. Female preference of complex calls in tungara frog: Mating success is higher for males with more complex calls. Mating vs. survival: even though these male may not live as long, their fitness is higher because he produces more offspring, evolutionary compromise. Some females only mate with males who provide food. Chance of mating greater, the larger the prey. When female eating, she is standing in one position. Why are male elaborations common: females prefer them, resulting in selection for elaborate traits.
