mating strategy
Courtship behavior pattern
A mating strategy is a pattern of behavior that organisms use to attract partners and reproduce.
In biology, this covers everything from elaborate courtship displays to competition between rivals to sneaky alternative tactics.
The term extends to human dating and relationship patterns, sometimes seriously in evolutionary psychology and sometimes playfully: His mating strategy involves buying drinks and telling bad jokes.
Animals may employ different strategies depending on circumstances, resources, or competition.
Presentation for viewing
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- danceRhythmic bodily movement
- songMusical piece with words
- pheromonesSpecies-specific chemical messengers
leks · seduction · flirting · attraction · wooing · peacocking · serenade · grooming
One partner at a time
- polygamyMultiple concurrent spouses
- polyandryOne female, several mates
- polygynyMultiple simultaneous wives
- promiscuityFrequent casual sexual encounters
pair bonding · territoriality · dominance · competition · aggression · copulation · cuckoldry · sperm competition
Differential reproductive success
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- fitnessGood physical shape
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- reproductive successOffspring contribution to future generations
genetic variation · heritability · speciation · Red Queen hypothesis
Units of heredity
- allelesVariant forms of genes
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
chromosomes · DNA · recombination · mutation · gene pool · heredity · heterozygosity · outbreeding
Offspring protection and nurturing
- nestingMaking a dwelling
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- alloparentingChildcare by non-biological caregivers
- maternal careNurturing by a mother
provisioning · fledging · weaning · incubation · nurturing
display
Presentation for viewing
pheromones · leks · seduction · flirting · attraction · wooing · peacocking · serenade · grooming · plumage
monogamy
One partner at a time
- polygamyMultiple concurrent spouses
- polyandryOne female, several mates
- polygynyMultiple simultaneous wives
promiscuity · pair bonding · territoriality · dominance · competition · aggression · copulation · cuckoldry · sperm competition · infanticide
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- fitnessGood physical shape
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
reproductive success · genetic variation · heritability · speciation · Red Queen hypothesis
genes
Units of heredity
- allelesVariant forms of genes
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
inheritance · chromosomes · DNA · recombination · mutation · gene pool · heredity · heterozygosity · outbreeding · genetic diversity
parental care
Offspring protection and nurturing
- nestingMaking a dwelling
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- alloparentingChildcare by non-biological caregivers
maternal care · provisioning · fledging · weaning · incubation · nurturing
mating strategycelibacy
Abstaining from intimate relations
abstinence · sexual abstinence · asexual reproduction · infertility · sterility
mating strategyasexual reproduction
Single-parent cloning process
parthenogenesis · budding · binary fission · self-fertilization
mate, mating, mates, mated, mateless, teammate, roommate, playmate, classmate