ANT211H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Warini, Ratia
Document Summary
We"re exceptional animals in that our fathers and mothers often remain together after copulating and are both involved in rearing the result child. But most fathers make some contribution to their children, even if it"s just food or defense r land. Most male mammals have no involvement with either their offspring or their offspring"s mother after inseminating her; they are too busy seeking other females to inseminate. Male animals in general, not just male mammals, provide much less parental care (if any) than do. Many of the so-called choices actually are programmed into an animal"s anatomy and physiology: ex: female kangaroos have chosen to have a pouch that can accommodate their young, but male kangaroos have not. Anatomical structures and instincts that promote survival and reproductive success tend to become established (genetically programmed) by natural selection. Natural selection operates initially on individual animals and plants.
