RELS 09: Sexual selection A01

Explain what is meant by the term anisogamy and how it explains why males have more opportunities for reproduction than females (4)

* Males have many small sperm​

* They can produce these for most of their lives, so they remain fertile for longer​

* Females have few large eggs​

* Their fertility drops over the lifespan, especially at menopause

Explain parental investment theory and its consequences for parental certainty (3)

* Females carry and feed offspring ​

* Females have greater parental certainty than males​

* i.e., know offspring are theirs, while males are less certain

Explain why sexual selection theory claims that males will compete for access to choosy females (3) and females will choose from competing males (3)

* Males mating strategies will be more focused on maximising reproduction​

* i.e., increasing chances of having sex with more females​

* Less concerned with parental investment

* Females mating strategies will be more focused on maximising investment in offspring​

* i.e., investing time and effort in offspring​

* Less concerned with maximising reproduction

Explain two hypotheses about male mate preferences (4)

* Males will prefer to mate with younger, attractive females​

* Preference for youth and attractiveness will be weaker in females

* Males will have a greater desire for casual sex than females​

* Males will be less choosy about sexual partners than females

Explain two hypotheses about female mate preferences (4)

* Females will prefer to mate with males with resources

e.g., money, signs of / potential for success​

* They will also prefer males who show signs of commitment

i.e., willingness to show parental investment in offspring