Sexual and Reproductive Behavior

How do female choice and male-male competition affect mating behavior in polygynous systems?

Female choice is usually dependent on male characteristics or resource possession. While male to male competition is based on size, strength, abilities. This can affect courtship and copulation behaviors

What external cues influence libido?

Olfactory glands, such as the flehmen response triggered by female urination. External stimuli reflect internal hormonal state.

What function do courtship/pre-mating behaviors serve?

They advertise sexual receptivity and enhance libido and fertility.

Provide examples of pre-mating behavior/behavioral cues of receptivity in males and females.

Female cats advertise sexual receptivity in lordosis, and fertility enhancement occurs when males are near estrous females.

What are examples of problems related to sexual and reproductive behavior may arise due to relaxed selection, unintentional selection, artificial selection/selective breeding, and rearing conditions?

Relaxed selection can lead to low libido in males with inadequate sexual behavior.

Unintentional selection would be breeding out aggression accidentally by not handling an aggressive animal.

Artificial selection for traits that hinder sexual performace ie: bulldogs.

Rearing conditions don’t expose animals to reproduction, and so they lack the ability to.

How is libido affected by the novelty effect and spectator effect?

By being exposed to an unfamiliar female, polygamous males can increase their libido. Additionally, bulls who spectate other bulls copulating are more likely to copulate themselves.

How can understanding sexual behavior improve breeding success when artificial insemination is used? 

Knowing what signs to look for in sexual receptivity allows more accuracy in tracking gestation while also increasing the likelihood of fertilization.