Laboratory Exercises in Animal Behavior - Weightlifting in Humans - Worksheet

Worksheet

1. Define sexual selection.

Selection for traits that increase mating success in males or females.

2. What are two factors that affect the degree of intra-sexual competition?

1) Intersexual difference in parental effort and

2) ratio of males to females available for mating at one time.

3. Are females or males usually more selective in choosing copulation partners?

Females are usually more selective because they produce the energy-rich egg and are often the primary care giver. Therefore, females cannot afford to make a poor choice of mate because they are more likely to the "stuck" with their choices.

4. What are some of the ways in which males compete for mates?

Fighting, singing, preening, displaying physical characteristics such as the plumage of the male peacocks.

5. State your hypothesis and its prediction, which you will test.

6. If you did not have a weight room, what other places or facilities could be used to conduct a similar exercise? Explain.

7. Are you going to study male-male, female-female or female-male interactions and why?