Biology / Unit 14 Bio 3633 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Mating Systems
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The idea
A mating system describes how many mates an individual takes: monogamy pairs one male with one female, polygyny one male with several females, polyandry the reverse.
In practice
Where male investment is far lower than female investment, a species tends toward polygyny, since one male can father many broods.
Where people slip
A mating system reflects parental investment, not a fixed taxonomic trait.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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