All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which behavior best increases fertilization success in species with external fertilization?
Answer: Synchronized release of eggs and sperm. Timing ensures sperm meets eggs in water before dispersal.
Flashcard 2: Identify the reproductive advantage of territorial behavior during breeding season.
Answer: Secures resources and space that attract mates or support offspring. Good territories show male quality and provide nesting sites.
Flashcard 3: What is a mating call used for in many animals?
Answer: To attract mates and signal species identity and readiness. Sound travels far and helps same-species recognition.
Flashcard 4: What is nest building as a reproductive behavior?
Answer: Constructing a safe place for eggs or young. Provides shelter and protection for vulnerable offspring.
Flashcard 5: What is parental care?
Answer: Actions by parents that increase offspring survival. Feeding, protecting, and teaching help young reach maturity.
Flashcard 6: Which behavior most directly increases offspring survival after birth: parental care or molting?
Answer: Parental care. Care directly helps young survive; molting is growth-related.
Flashcard 7: What is incubation behavior in animals that lay eggs?
Answer: Keeping eggs warm and protected until hatching. Body heat and protection ensure successful egg development.
Flashcard 8: What is mate guarding?
Answer: Staying with a mate to reduce mating with rivals. Prevents other males from fertilizing the female's eggs.
Flashcard 9: What is a pheromone in the context of reproduction?
Answer: A chemical signal that attracts mates or signals reproductive status. Airborne molecules trigger mating behaviors in receivers.
Flashcard 10: Which behavior reduces the chance of mating with the wrong species?
Answer: Species-specific courtship signals. Prevents hybrid offspring that may be less fit.
Flashcard 11: Identify the term for animals mating only during a specific time of year.
Answer: Seasonal breeding. Ensures offspring born when resources are most abundant.
Flashcard 12: What is nest building most likely to increase in reproduction?
Answer: Offspring survival by protecting eggs or young. Safe location reduces predation and environmental threats.
Flashcard 13: Identify the behavior where an animal migrates to a breeding ground to reproduce.
Answer: Breeding migration. Ensures access to optimal breeding habitat and conditions.
Flashcard 14: Which behavior directly helps offspring survive by providing food, warmth, or protection?
Answer: Parental care. Increases offspring survival rates through active investment.
Flashcard 15: Which behavior most directly prevents eggs from drying out in many amphibians and fish?
Answer: Choosing moist, protected egg-laying sites. Maintains proper moisture for egg development and hatching.
Flashcard 16: Identify the term for one male mating with many females in a breeding group.
Answer: Polygyny. Maximizes male reproductive output with multiple partners.
Flashcard 17: Which behavior best increases offspring survival in herd or flock species?
Answer: Group living that provides protection for young. Many eyes detect predators; dilution effect protects individuals.
Flashcard 18: What is mate choice (sexual selection by choice)?
Answer: Selecting a mate based on traits that signal fitness or quality. Females often choose males with best genes or resources.
Flashcard 19: Identify the term for males fighting or displaying to win access to mates.
Answer: Male-male competition. Winners gain exclusive mating rights with females.
Flashcard 20: What is a courtship display in animals?
Answer: A behavior used to attract a mate and increase mating success. Shows fitness through elaborate visual, auditory, or behavioral signals.
Flashcard 21: Which behavior most increases reproductive success in animals whose young need long care?
Answer: Forming pair bonds and sharing parental care. Two parents can better feed and protect dependent young.
Flashcard 22: Identify the term for a pair bond where two parents cooperate to raise young.
Answer: Monogamy (pair bonding). Both parents investing doubles offspring care quality.
Flashcard 23: What is territorial behavior, and how can it support reproduction?
Answer: Defending an area to secure mates and resources. Protects breeding sites and resources needed for raising young.
Flashcard 24: What is a lek, and what reproductive behavior occurs there?
Answer: A display area where males court and females choose. Males compete through displays while females select mates.
Flashcard 25: What is synchronized spawning, and why does it increase reproductive success?
Answer: Many release eggs and sperm together to boost fertilization. Timing increases chances gametes meet in water.
Flashcard 26: What is migration for breeding?
Answer: Seasonal movement to reach suitable mating or nesting sites. Animals travel to optimal breeding habitats or conditions.
Flashcard 27: Identify the reproductive behavior: a salmon returns to its birth river to reproduce.
Answer: Migration for breeding (natal homing). Returning to birthplace ensures suitable spawning conditions.
Flashcard 28: What is cooperative breeding?
Answer: Non-parents help raise young, increasing offspring survival. Extra caregivers improve feeding and protection of young.
Flashcard 29: Which behavior increases fertilization success in internal fertilization: copulation or shedding skin?
Answer: Copulation. Direct sperm transfer ensures fertilization; shedding aids growth.
Flashcard 30: Which behavior most directly increases the chance of finding a mate: courtship display or hibernation?
Answer: Courtship display. Displays directly attract mates; hibernation is for survival.