Advanced Higher biology key area 2.4 ( sex and behvaiour)

Fixed action pattern

Species specific sequence of behaviours in which one behaviour leads to the next

Honest signals

Characteristics that can indicate fitness and favourable alleles that increase the chances of survival of an offspring or a low parasite burden, suggesting a healthy individual

K-selected

Breeding strategy in species that are larger, live longer and produce fewer offspring larger offspring ( people, apes,)

Lek

A communal area in which two or more males of a lekking species perform a courtship display

Male-male rivalry

Males will fight for dominance and acess to females for mating through real or ritualise conflict

Monogamy

The mating of a pair of animals to the exclusion of all others

Parental investment

Any parental expenditure that benefits the offspring, increasing the offspring’s survival chances, at the expense of the parent being able to invest in other offspring

Polyandry

One female mates with a number of males in the same breeding season

Polygamy

Individuals of one sex having more than one mate

Polygyne

One male mates with a number of females in the same breeding season

Reversed sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in which females are more conspicuous than males

R-selected

Breeding strategy that are smaller, mature more rapidly, and produce a larger number off offspring, each of which receives limited parental care

Sexual dimorphism

The differences in appearance between males and females of the same species, such as colour, shape, size

Sexual selection

Selection for charachteristics that have little survival benefit for the individual, but increase their chances of mating

Species-specific sign stimulus

A feature or action that indicates intent, often to start courtship