Definitions
Greek term English meaning
-gamy # of partners
-gyny Women (females)
-andry Men (males)
Mono One
Poly Many
Polygyny
Grey-sided moles example:
● Distribution of resources - Grey-sided voles will find and stay where there are most
resources are when moved from place to place.
● Distribution of mates - If the females are placed in areas where there are not so
many resources the males will still map themselves to the females. This does not
happen vice versa.
Female defence polygyny:
When males guard the females they mate with. One male will defend multiple females living
within the same territory (harem).
Resource defence polygyny:
When males guard resources required by females for functions such as childbirth (E.G fish
guarding shells where eggs can be placed). One mmale will mate with multiple females who
are attracted to resources he controls.
Female perspective - Why should females want to mate with more than one male? -
Polygyny Threshold model:
, Lek
Polygyny:
Derived from
Swedish
word “Play”
A place where males gather and perform an attractive display (E.G. beauty like peacocks’
feathers or weapons like deers’ antlers), and the onlooking females will choose a partner.
This is unusual because female Leks are very choosy. NOTE: The males do not provide any
parental care.
The stakes are very high - They are either extreme winners or extreme losers.
Greek term English meaning
-gamy # of partners
-gyny Women (females)
-andry Men (males)
Mono One
Poly Many
Polygyny
Grey-sided moles example:
● Distribution of resources - Grey-sided voles will find and stay where there are most
resources are when moved from place to place.
● Distribution of mates - If the females are placed in areas where there are not so
many resources the males will still map themselves to the females. This does not
happen vice versa.
Female defence polygyny:
When males guard the females they mate with. One male will defend multiple females living
within the same territory (harem).
Resource defence polygyny:
When males guard resources required by females for functions such as childbirth (E.G fish
guarding shells where eggs can be placed). One mmale will mate with multiple females who
are attracted to resources he controls.
Female perspective - Why should females want to mate with more than one male? -
Polygyny Threshold model:
, Lek
Polygyny:
Derived from
Swedish
word “Play”
A place where males gather and perform an attractive display (E.G. beauty like peacocks’
feathers or weapons like deers’ antlers), and the onlooking females will choose a partner.
This is unusual because female Leks are very choosy. NOTE: The males do not provide any
parental care.
The stakes are very high - They are either extreme winners or extreme losers.
