1. Mating systems
A conglomeration of characteristics of populations and individuals that affect reproduction

2. Mating systems
Population attributes:
duration of breeding season

3. Mating systems Population attributes: duration of breeding season
extremely short (“explosive”)
some insects, some frogs

4. Mating systems Population attributes: duration of breeding season
extremely short (“explosive”)
some insects, some frogs
short and seasonal - many birds, insects, mammals

5. Mating systems Population attributes: duration of breeding season
extremely short (“explosive”)
some insects, some frogs
short and seasonal - many birds, insects, mammals
prolonged and episodic - many mammals

6. Mating systems Population attributes: duration of breeding season
extremely short (“explosive”)
some insects, some frogs
short and seasonal - many birds, insects, mammals
prolonged and episodic - many mammals
continuous - some insects, some fishes, some mammals

7. Mating systems Population attributes: duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
even vs. clumped
affects mate location tactics

8. Mating systems Population attributes: duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
population vs. “operational”
affects male competition

9. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual

10. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual
monogamy - relatively rare (but most birds are monogamous)

11. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual
monogamy - relatively rare
polygyny - common

12. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual
monogamy - relatively rare
polygyny - common
polyandry - very rare

13. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual
mate location tactics

14. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual
mate location tactics
reproductive competition

15. Mating systems Population attributes: Individual attributes:
duration of breeding season
dispersion of population
sex ratio
Individual attributes:
number of mates per individual
mate location tactics
reproductive competition
mate choice

16. Mating systems
Categories of mating systems based on number of mates per individual…

17. Mating systems Monogamy: Pair bonding more or less long-term
based on individual recognition

18. Mating systems
Monogamy:
Pair bonding
Exclusive sexual access

19. Mating systems Monogamy: Pair bonding Exclusive sexual access
but with EPC in many species
substantial cuckoldry occurs in many bird species

20. Mating systems Monogamy: Pair bonding Exclusive sexual access
Cooperation in parental care

21. Mating systems Monogamy: Pair bonding Exclusive sexual access
Cooperation in parental care
Common in birds

22. Mating systems Monogamy: Pair bonding Exclusive sexual access
Cooperation in parental care
Common in birds
external development allows fathers to do parental care

23. Mating systems Monogamy: Pair bonding Exclusive sexual access
Cooperation in parental care
Common in birds
external development allows fathers to do parental care
“altricial” young - helpless babies that require prolonged and extensive parental care

24. Mating systems
Monogamy:
What about human monogamy?

25. Mating systems Monogamy: What about human monogamy?
Human babies are altricial - they require prolonged and extensive parental care

26. Mating systems Monogamy: What about human monogamy?
Human babies are altricial - they require prolonged and extensive parental care
What is the best strategy for humans?

27. Mating systems
Polygynous mating systems:

28. Mating systems
Polygynous mating systems:
resource defense polygyny

29. Mating systems Polygynous mating systems: resource defense polygyny
Males occupy and defend exclusive territories

30. Mating systems polygynous mating systems: resource defense polygyny
The territories contain resources that females need for reproduction TM TM TM TM TM TM
TM = territorial male

31. Mating systems polygynous mating systems: resource defense polygyny
The territories contain resources that females need for reproduction TM TM TM TM TM
This could be bullfrogs, carpenter bees, collared lizards, red-winged blackbirds…. TM
TM = territorial male

32. Mating systems polygynous mating systems: resource defense polygyny
Females choose males based on quality of their territories F F TM TM F TM F TM F TM F TM TM

33. Mating systems polygynous mating systems: resource defense polygyny
Males with high-quality territories mate with many females F F F TM TM F sm F sm TM sm F sm F TM
satellite males
occasionally intercept
females at the edges of
territories F F TM F sm TM sm F F
MOVE THIS SLIDE

34. Mating systems polygynous mating systems: resource defense polygyny
Males with high-quality territories mate with many females
polygynous mating systems:
resource defense polygyny F F F TM TM F TM F F TM F F TM F TM TM F F F

35. Mating systems
Do humans practice polygyny?

36. Mating systems

37. Mating systems

38. Mating systems

39. Mating systems
Polygynous mating systems:
female defense polygyny

40. Mating systems Polygynous mating systems: female defense polygyny
The moose model…

41. Mating systems Polygynous mating systems: female defense polygyny
The moose model…
Do humans…?

42. Mating systems Polygynous mating systems: female defense polygyny
The moose model…
Do humans…?
The Sultan Ishmael model
The Chinese Emperor

43. Mating systems Polyandrous mating systems: (with sex role reversal)
extraordinarily rare because…

44. Mating systems Polyandrous mating systems: (with sex role reversal)
The Phalarope model…

45. Mating systems Polyandrous mating systems: resource defense polyandry
Females occupy and defend exclusive territories
The territories contain nest sites; males incubate eggs and care for young
Females court males and compete with each other for males (male PI) M M M TF TF TF M M M TF M M TF M
Some females mate with multiple males TF M