In: Biology
In this stickleback system, the red coloration also plays a role in signaling between males and females. Males flash color to females during courtship dances. However, some males do not produce the color. These males adopt cryptic coloration (resembling the background) and engage in sneaky mating attempts instead of courtship. Females do not pay attention to these sneaker males.
63. Which of the following is likely the case for the sneaker males?
a) they outnumber the displaying males and their relative number is maintained by frequency-dependent selection
b) they are outnumbered by displaying males and their relative number is maintained by frequency-dependent selection
c) they outnumber the displaying males and their relative number is maintained by gene flow
d) they are outnumbered by displaying males and their relative number is maintained by gene flow
64. Which of the following is likely the case for females?
a) on average, females benefit more by responding to displaying males only
b) on average, females benefit more by responding to both displaying males and sneaker males
c) on average, females benefit more by responding to sneaker males only
63.Ans.(d) They are outnumbered by displaying males and the relative number is maintained by gene flow.
Explanation: Displaying character is dominant over sneaker character and hence the number of males with displaying character is more in number. The relative number of sneaker males is maintained by gene flow which means that sneaker males are also producing offsprings by mating with the females in the population even though the reproductive success is very low as compared to displaying males. Hence, due to this gene flow small number of sneaker males is maintained in the population.
64.Ans. (a) on average, females benefit more by responding to displaying males only.
Explanation: Displaying character is dominant and hence males with displaying color are more beneficial for reproductive process and is an advantageous character ecologically. Color display leads to more attraction to females and reproductive success is more than sneaker males. Hence, character is favoured and more beneficial.