Question

According to the the parasite-load (or Hamilton-Zuk) model, what benefit does a male's extreme trait value indicate that he will provide to the female? (Hint, this model is an indirect benefits model.)

            A. The male has alleles conferring resistance to parasites, which he can pass on to the females offspring

            B. The male is healthy, which means he will not infect the female.

            C. The male has a good feeding territory, so he will be able to provide food for the offspring.

            D. None, extreme values indicate that the male is in poor health from parasitism, and the female avoids him.

Answer 1

The Hamilton and Zuk hypothesis 1982, stated that , in a certain condition a female choose its male partner on the basis of secondary sexual characters. A male which is genetically resistance of certain parasite is considered as a favorable sexual trait. By mating with this male, a female can obtain the resistance gene for their ofsprings

therefore, the correct option is -

Option A. he male has alleles conferring resistance to parasites, which he can pass on to the females offspring.