3. For each of the following traits, put NS if the trait is largely a product of natural selection and SS if the trait is largely a product of sexual selection. (5 marks)
a. The donation by a mother elephant seal of special nutrients and biochemicals other than DNA to her eggs.
b. A female starling’s destruction of the eggs laid by another female that has been mated by the first female?s partner (if a male starling has only one mate, he will help her incubate the eggs).
c. The loss of all but two teeth in the jaws of ziphiid whales.
d. The enlargement of the two remaining teeth in the jaws of ziphiid whales.
e. The production and transfer of chemicals (in a male ejaculate) to a female fruit fly that increase the probability that the sperm transferred to her at the same time will fertilize her eggs.
4. For each of the following, put PI if the trait is an example of “parental investment.” Put NO if the trait cannot be categorized as parental investment. (5 marks)
a. The donation by a mother elephant seal of special nutrients and biochemicals other than DNA to her eggs.
b. A female starling’s destruction of the eggs laid by another female that has been mated by the first female’s partner (if a male starling has only one mate, he will help her incubate the eggs).
c. The elaborate ornaments that a male bird of paradise possesses without which he will not attract a mate.
d. The transfer of large quantities of sperm to a female, which increases the probability that one of those sperm will fertilize the eggs.
e. The production and transfer of chemicals (in a male ejaculate) to a female fruit fly that increase the probability that the sperm transferred to her at the same time will fertilize her eggs.
5. Why might male Mormon crickets have a lower potential reproductive rate than females? (2 marks)
a. Males make relatively few sperm compared to the egg production rate of females.
b. Males compete so intensely for mates that this shortens their lifespan.
c. Males donate a very large, hard?to?replace spermatophore to each mate.
d. Females make almost no parental investment in their offspring.
6. Although some male crab spiders find and mate with adult female spiders, others that find immature females remain with them although the subadult females are incapable of mating until they become adults. This behaviour would puzzle most evolutionary biologists because: (2 marks)
a. The genetic basis for this behaviour would be very difficult to
determine.
b. Mating is instinctive in spiders and therefore all males should behave the same, either mating with adult females only or guarding subadult females only.
c. Males that guard subadults cannot use the time to find receptive females.
d. One would think that immature female spiders should accept and store sperm from males in order to permit good femalefinding males to have time to find many mates.
7. A conditional strategy is unquestionably an adaptation when individuals able to switch tactics: (2 marks)
a. Leave some surviving descendants to carry their genes into the
next generation.
b. Leave more surviving offspring than individuals with any other strategy.
c. Are better able to adjust to changing conditions than other members of their species.
d. Experience a net gain in fitness from their behavioural flexibility.
8. Why do lions hunt together? Provide a one?sentence hypothesis that fits under each of the following categories: (8 marks)
a. Mutualism hypothesis
b. Reciprocal altruism hypothesis
c. Altruism hypothesis
d. Selfish exploitation hypothesis
I am chemistry major, but need to take some BIO courses. I would really appreciate someone can help me solving these problem. Don't want to fail the course
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