TLS Online TPP Program

#Id: 9436

#XL - T Zoology

Several hypotheses explain the existence of monogamy.

1. Mate-guarding hypothesis, a male stays with a female to protect her from being fertilized by other males.

2. The male assistance hypothesis maintains that males remain with females to help them rear their offspring.

3. The female-enforced monogamy, females stop their male partners from being polygynous.

TLS Online TPP Program

#Id: 9437

#XL - T Zoology

Polygamy

Polygamy is a system in which either males or females' mate with more than one partner in a breeding season.

1. In polygyny

2. In polyandry

TLS Online TPP Program

#Id: 9438

#XL - T Zoology

Polygynous

In polygyny, one male mates with more than one female in a single breeding season, but females mate only with one male.

In species with male-male competition, males are often substantially larger than females, a phenomenon called sexual dimorphism.

TLS Online TPP Program

#Id: 9439

#XL - T Zoology

Condition favor polygyny

Resource-based polygyny - Choosing dominant males, a female may be gaining access to good resources.

Harem mating structures - Sometimes males defend a group of females without commanding a resource - based territory. 

Ex- horses and zebras, some deer, lions, and seals.

Communal courting - In some instances, particularly in birds and mammals, males display in designated communal courting areas called leks.

TLS Online TPP Program

#Id: 9440

#XL - T Zoology

Polyandrous

In polyandrous mating systems, one female mates with many males.

Honeybees are polyandrous because the queen often mates with multiple males.

TLS Online TPP Program

#Id: 9441

#XL - T Zoology

Promiscuous

In promiscuous mating systems, each male or female may mate with multiple partners.

Chimpanzees, bonobos and Intertidal and terrestrial mollusks