Mating Patterns

1 male & 1 female pair mate with no one else

Birds◦ 90% of species

21% of those end in “divorce” Not always death due us part http://animal.discovery.com/videos/cute-and-cuddly-

dads-trumpeter-swan-dads.html

Monogamy

Mammals◦ Less than 3% species

Some species the females prevent the males from breeding with other females within their group◦ Example- marmosets/tamarins, wolves & wild dogs

Reasons for females being the parental care◦ Lactation/feeding◦ Males gain more by leaning reproductively

Coolidge Effect◦ Ability of males to resume copulation with a new female

Copulatory lock◦ To ensure fertilization

Monogamy

“Many Males” Female mates with several males & males tends do

parental care Few bird species, few insect species, sea horses &

few human cultures◦ http://animal.discovery.com/videos/cute-and-cuddly-dads-

sea-horse-dads.html Males might incubate eggs Can raise 2 sets of young per year by both caring for

young Philopatry- females return to where they were born Females tend to have a territory

Polyandry

“Many Females” Male mates with several females & female mates with 1 male Most common method in animal kingdom 97% mammals Resource Defense Polygyny

◦ Good resources in clumped areas◦ Females need these resources◦ 60% mammals

1 female solitary with male has larger area around her to defend Female Harem Defense Polygyny

◦ Tend to aggregate because increased vigilance, mutual defense & alarms

◦ May be 1 male or couple males with lots of females ◦ Seasonal harems

Polygyny

Male Dominance Polygyny◦ Females tend to pick same male◦ Free to choose most fit male◦ Lek displays used

Scramble Competition Polygyny◦ Males search for females without much competition◦ Lots of options or very few

Unusual Polygyny◦ Releasers- stimuli the male & female exchange during

courtship◦ Example- Stickleback Fish- males breed with a bunch

of females and care for all their eggs

Polygyny

Both males & females mate several times with different individuals

No pair bonds Example- weasel family Polygynandry

◦ Combo of polygynous males & polyandrous females

Promiscuity/Polygynandry

Individual of either sex has more than 1 mate

Includes◦ Polygyny◦ Polyandry◦ Polygynandry

Polygamy