Reproductive animal strategies:
Reproductive strategies maximize reproductive success in different
environments.
Courtship:
Behavior/and or signals that is designed to attract another animal for mating and
breeding
e.g) Male frogs have to return to water for breeding. Once males reach the
breeding ground they sing(grunt/croack) to attract females. (each species
has its own song that only attracts females from the same species)
How it maximizes reproduction
Ensures that males and females find suitable mates (e.g the strongest male)
Ensures that male and female are ready for mating at the same time
Energy expenditure is by the male therefor female can save her energy for
breeding
Fertilization:
Fertilization is the joining of the nuclei of the egg and sperm
Sperm are motile (can swim) and eggs are stationary (cant move)
External Fertilization:
Takes place in water
Most aquatic animals
Not an ideal process:
1. Its wasteful as lots of energy is used to produce and lay eggs (most of these
eggs are eaten)
2. Fertilization is not certain
e.g) Courtship rituals whereby male and female swim next to each other in
order for the gametes to be close to each other to ensure fertilization.
Energy used to produce large number of eggs
Internal Fertilization:
Male gametes are released directly into the body of the female (during
mating) and fertilise the egg inside of the body.
Occurs in terrestrial vertabraes
E.g) Mammals: copulate when a penis come in contact with a vagina. Penis
ensures that sperm is being transferred without being destroyed by
environmental conditions. Sperm swim to an egg in seminal fluid and
mucous membrane fluid.
How it maximizes reproduction
Reproductive strategies maximize reproductive success in different
environments.
Courtship:
Behavior/and or signals that is designed to attract another animal for mating and
breeding
e.g) Male frogs have to return to water for breeding. Once males reach the
breeding ground they sing(grunt/croack) to attract females. (each species
has its own song that only attracts females from the same species)
How it maximizes reproduction
Ensures that males and females find suitable mates (e.g the strongest male)
Ensures that male and female are ready for mating at the same time
Energy expenditure is by the male therefor female can save her energy for
breeding
Fertilization:
Fertilization is the joining of the nuclei of the egg and sperm
Sperm are motile (can swim) and eggs are stationary (cant move)
External Fertilization:
Takes place in water
Most aquatic animals
Not an ideal process:
1. Its wasteful as lots of energy is used to produce and lay eggs (most of these
eggs are eaten)
2. Fertilization is not certain
e.g) Courtship rituals whereby male and female swim next to each other in
order for the gametes to be close to each other to ensure fertilization.
Energy used to produce large number of eggs
Internal Fertilization:
Male gametes are released directly into the body of the female (during
mating) and fertilise the egg inside of the body.
Occurs in terrestrial vertabraes
E.g) Mammals: copulate when a penis come in contact with a vagina. Penis
ensures that sperm is being transferred without being destroyed by
environmental conditions. Sperm swim to an egg in seminal fluid and
mucous membrane fluid.
How it maximizes reproduction
