Question

Sexual reproduction requires a lot of enery from an organism, the energy could otherwise grow to become bigger, stronger and healthier. The organisms are left vulnerable during this time. On the other hand, members later in life (older) in a population can compete for resources and food even when there age does not allow them to reproduce

a. when would sexual reproduction provide a higher fitness to the population (what situations?, provide an example)

b. What are mechanisms when competing for mates (examples and explain enviornment that each one would be favored)

Answer 1

Animals compete for habitat, food and mate for reproduction. The fitness of an individual increases when the animal could involve in mating and pass on its genes to its generations. In order to increase its fitness, males have to establish its own territories and should have specific and attractive courtship behavoirs which can draw attention of a female. Females gets attracted to males which occupy prime sites and involve in mating with that male in order to produce an offspring with such quality traits. The males which has higher defending skills mate with many females and therefore its overall fitness increases.

The energy investment for sexual reproduction is high but the benefits outweigh the cost involved in it.